Red Bull have dismissed the appeal of the female employee at the centre of allegations of controlling behaviour aimed at F1 team principal Christian Horner.

The employee in question was suspended by Red Bull Racing on full pay earlier this year after her initial case was dismissed by the team’s Austrian parent company.

That followed an internal grievance procedure carried out by a specialist external barrister.

The employee appealed the result of that verdict.

The outcome is not a huge surprise. It is understood the appeal was a necessity the complainant had to take to get to an employment tribunal, which her lawyers have always maintained is the next step in the process.

Tania Goodman, a partner and the head of employment at the law firm Collyer Bristow, told The Telegraph when the grievance case was first dismissed that it would be very unusual to overturn the findings of a KC.

Horner, 50, who has always denied the claims made against him, has continued in his role as Red Bull F1’s CEO and team principal.

Red Bull GmbH said in a statement: “Earlier this year a complaint raised against Christian Horner was investigated. That complaint was dealt with through the company’s grievance procedure by the appointment of an independent KC who dismissed the grievance.

“The complainant exercised the right to appeal, and the appeal was carried out by another independent KC. All stages of the appeal process have now been concluded, with the final outcome that the appeal is not being upheld.

“The KC’s conclusions have been accepted and adopted by Red Bull. The internal process has concluded.

“The company respects the privacy of all its employees and will not be making further public comment on this matter at this time.

“Red Bull is committed to continuing to meet the highest workplace standards.”