Red Bull’s parent company in Austria announced on Feb 5 an independent investigation into the 50-year-old Briton’s conduct after unspecified allegations against him. The process remains ongoing. Horner has denied any wrongdoing.

Formula 1’s commercial rights holder issued a short statement yesterday in which it hoped “that the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity, after a fair and thorough process.”

The Paris-based FIA followed today with a statement emphasising that it “remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and inclusivity within the sport.”

Both said they would make no further comment until the outcome was known.

Neither the energy drink company nor the British-based team have given details of the allegations, although media reports have spoken of inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards a female colleague.

Horner said at the launch of his team’s RB20 car in Milton Keynes last Friday that he was confident and cooperating with the process and denied “absolutely any allegation that’s been made against me.”

A Feb 9 hearing in London with an independent barrister lasted almost eight hours, according to Sky Sports.

The Briton is due to attend testing in Bahrain this week and is scheduled to appear in a regular FIA news conference on Thursday with other team principals before the opening race at Sakhir on March 2.

Should Horner be forced out of Red Bull, it would come as a seismic shock for the sport.

Horner and his team celebrated the most dominant season in Formula 1 history last year, with Red Bull winning 21 of 22 races, and will start the new season with Dutch driver Max Verstappen chasing a fourth successive title.

Horner is also the longest-serving team boss in Formula 1 and was by far the youngest when he led Red Bull into the sport in 2005.