The woman who has accused the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, of inappropriate behaviour is “very upset, angry, scared, intimidated and lonely”, according to a friend of hers who has spoken to BBC Sport.
“It’s impossible for people to understand what it’s like for her,” said the friend. “She can’t talk and she won’t talk.
“But I can tell you what it is doing to her. Every time I have asked her something, she breaks down in tears and says she’s got no one to talk to because she’s not allowed to talk.
“She is very upset, very angry, very scared, very intimidated, very lonely. And I think it’s impossible for people to understand without being in her shoes what it’s like for her.”
The ongoing crisis for the leading F1 team is sure to be the talk of the pit lanes at Suzuka for the Japan Grand Prix at the weekend with Horner set to face the media ahead of the fourth race of the season on Sunday.
Red Bull Racing’s parent company Red Bull GmbH announced in late February that Horner had been cleared of the allegations after a private, independent investigation and the employee, who has not been named, subsequently launched an appeal against the decision.
The friend of the woman told the BBC she “struggles to understand” how Red Bull dismissed the complaint following an investigation.
Horner has always emphatically denied any wrongdoing and has called for a line to be drawn under the matter. The Guardian understands from industry insiders, however, that the complainant will take the grievance to an employment tribunal in the event her appeal fails.
A Red Bull spokesperson told the BBC that Horner was bound by the same issues of confidentiality as his accuser.
The spokesperson said: “Both [parties] signed a confidentiality agreement on it so they both can’t discuss it.”