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SAKHIR, Bahrain, March 1 (Reuters) - Formula One champion Max Verstappen offered his strongest endorsement yet of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner since the Briton became tangled up in allegations, of which he has been cleared, about misconduct toward a female colleague.

Speaking on Friday after taking pole position in qualifying for the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Verstappen said Horner’s contribution to the team’s on-track success was unquestionable.

"Listen, when I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss," said the Dutch triple champion.

"So absolutely, from the performance side of things, you can't even question that."

Horner was cleared on Wednesday after a lengthy investigation carried out by an independent lawyer for the championship winning team's Austrian parent company, Red Bull GmbH.

He has repeatedly denied the unspecified allegations against him and Red Bull has said the investigation report will remain confidential.

But an anonymous email circulated widely on Thursday and containing a Google drive link to purported evidence submitted as part of the investigation triggered renewed speculation, in the media and on social networks, about Horner’s future.

An FIA spokesperson said the governing body currently considered it an internal matter but was keeping a close eye on the situation.

Horner, 50, met with the president of the governing FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem and Formula One chief executive Stefano Domenicali in the Sakhir paddock on Friday.

The pair were among the roughly 150 recipients of the email, which was also sent to commercial rights holders Liberty Media, other team bosses and members of the media.

Horner is the sport’s longest-serving team boss having brought Red Bull into Formula One in 2005.

Last year, he led the Milton Keynes-based squad to its sixth constructors’ title with 21 wins from 22 races in the most dominant campaign in the sport’s history.

Verstappen, winner of 19 races, clinched his third successive crown.

"I speak to Christian a lot, and also throughout the weekend here, he's fully committed to the team, he's also here for the performance, of course, probably a little bit distracted," said the 26-year-old.

"But, like I said before, we just focus on the performance side of things, and that's how we all work together."

(Editing by Toby Davis and Christian Radnedge)

((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))

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