David Coulthard believes calls for “transparency” over Red Bull’s investigation into Christian Horner🥃 is merely “stoking the fires”.

Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and McLa⛦ren’s Zak Brown were vocal in their demand for greater clarity surrounding the Red Bull investigation.

But Cou𝓰lthard - ex-Red Bull driver and currently an ambassador for the brand - has hinted about an ulterior motive.

“There is a call from those who want to stoke the fire,” Coulthard told Channel 4 when asked ab꧂out the requests for ‘transparency’.

“There will be❀ those ౠwho are looking for the good of the fanbase, to ask for more transparency.

“But it’s a private matter. We all have🃏 a right to privacy.

“If there ওwas a case to answer, then we’d know about it. It has been dealt with by an independent group.

“Now, that will not satisfy those who want more. Those who want to dig deepe🍬r.”

Coulthard ad𒅌ded: "The sport has♈ never been bigger. With something so big, it means a lot of money, a lot of politics, a lot of controversy…

"I see business as nor🧸mal within the race team. Of course, it’s not business as normal when it comes to Christian going into press conferences and being handed the scrutiny that he is under.

"But in te🎉rms of how the team go about their operation? How Max and Checo go in the car? They cannot be affected by that.

"You put your visor down and there is nothing else on your mind apar💦t from dri📖ving quickly."

Horner was c𓂃leared of wrongdo꧋ing by an independent lawyer after complaints against him from a Red Bull colleague.

His female accuser has now b♈een suspended by Red Bull.

The fallout has included criticism from Jos Verstappen, which forced Max Verstappen to tread the line ca꧑refully between his dad and his boss, before Helmut Marko became embroiled in the situation.

But Coulthard has delivered a reminder that controversies in F1 are nothing new - and tran😼sparency has been lacking b💖efore, too.

“If you 𝕴look up and down the pitlane when Formula 1 was not as popular, there have been a number of situations where there hasn’t been transparency,” he said.

“Ferrari came to an agreement with the FIA regarding their fuel flow a🔜nd their engi🌜ne. We are still none the wiser as to what that agreement was.

“But it 🔥did seem to coincide with t🗹hem losing their winning ways!”

Horner was bulli🦹sh at last weekend’s F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in demanding that the media intrusion into his marriage and familyꦕ stops.

Coulthard has had his say: “This is unfortunate and unsavoury but it has been handled in a way which has brought a🅘 conclusion.”

On-track Red Bull’s progress has been faultless. Max Verstappe𒈔n and Sergio Perez have finished first and second respectively in each of the fi💖rst two grands prix of 2024.

But the off-track drama has created an unexpected furore over Verstappen’s f🍌uture.

He is contracted until the end of 2028 but Horner admitted that h﷽e couldn’t be kept against his will.

Mercedes boss W🍸olff has cheekily mentioned bringing Verstappen across to replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.

But any noise over the future over car design🗹 genius Adrian Newey has been dimmed, after new reports that he is not expected to leave Red Bull.