Red Bull boss Christian Horner responds after being investigated for 'inappropriate behaviour'

Red Bull boss Christian Horner is under investigation following allegations of "inappropriate behaviour".

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Red Bull are looking into unspecified claims made against Horner by one employee of the company.

It has been claimed that senior management within the team are aware of the accusations and that chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff is taking the situation seriously.

Red Bull claim they have launched an internal investigation into the matter overseen by an "external, specialised" lawyer.

"After the company was made aware of certain recent allegations, an independent investigation was launched," a spokesperson for Red Bull told De Telegraaf.

"This process, which is already ongoing, is being carried out by an external, specialised lawyer.

"The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practical. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."

In response to the allegations, Horner said: "I completely deny these claims."

Horner, who has headed Red Bull since their arrival on the grid back in 2005, is currently overseeing a period of huge success for the team.

Under Horner they have won seven drivers' championships and six constructors championships, while last season Red Bull won 21 of the 22 races on the calendar as Max Verstappen claimed the drivers' title.

Verstappen cruised to last season's Drivers' Championship (Getty)

Verstappen was responsible for 19 of those Grand Prix wins, ending the year 290 points clear of team-mate Sergio Perez in the standings.

The news has broken just days after the 50-year-old confirmed plans for a new, state-of-the-art wind tunnel at Red Bull's Milton Keynes facility.

Addressing the new plans, Horner said: “The commitment to the campus in the UK is extraordinary.

"To have a state-of-the-art wind tunnel, something that we debated over the last 19 years, and see where we are at with [Red Bull] Powertrains, to have within a three-year period recruited close to 500 people and built a state-of-the-art facility with our own manufacturing ability – it’s a massive commitment by the shareholders, and it demonstrates their commitment to the longevity, but it also demonstrates that Formula One is delivering.”