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CHRISTIAN Horner breathed a huge sigh of relief after receiving more backing from Red Bull’s bosses.
Horner hugged and shared a joke with Red Bull‘s CEO Franz Watzlawick on the grid before the race as both parties tried to draw a line under their recent spat.
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AFPEven Helmut Marko, the outspoken Austrian who works as Red Bull’s motorsport advisor and who had clearly aligned himself with Horner’s rival, Jos Verstappen, appealed for calm – just 24 hours after hinting he could be suspended.
It marked a good day for Horner as Max Verstappen, who was again miles ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.
It was Verstappen’s 56th win and his 100th podium in yet another crushing display that will surely now concern the F1 chiefs.
The Dutchman’s success goes against the model of US sports and the audience American-owned Liberty Media have tried to win over.
Verstappen, who started on pole, said: “Overall, a fantastic weekend for the whole team and myself.
“I felt really good with the car and it was the same in the race. The last stint was a bit longer than we would have liked but with the Safety Car you had to go for it.
“So, the last few laps with cold tyres and backmarkers it was a bit slippery but we had good pace all-around and could manage it, so overall very pleased.”
British racer Oliver Bearman impressed on his debut for Ferrari as he filled in for Carlos Sainz, who suffered appendicitis the previous day and underwent surgery.
The Spanish ace, who was here at the track to help out Bearman’s first race in F1 where the 18-year-old was voted as Driver of the Day after finishing seventh ahead of Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
It was a great drive from the Essex-born racer who only had one practice session to get up to speed before qualifying yesterday.
Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri was fourth for McLaren behind Charles Leclerc who took the final spot on the podium.
The result and the calls for clam meant Horner had a relatively normal day after a whirlwind month following the accusations of inappropriate behaviour from a female colleague.
The fallout has been spectacular and while Marko has now promised to toe the line, Verstappen’s future in the team very much remains in doubt.
What started as Horner’s personal controversy has morphed into a power struggle within Red Bull involving Horner, Red Bull’s head of corporate projects and investments department Oliver Mintzlaff and Red Bull majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidyah.
Horner has the support of Yoovidyah while Mintzlaff, who was in Saudi Arabia but did not join Watzlawick on the grid with Horner as expected.
Yoovidyah and Mintzlaff are expected to meet in Dubai on Sunday to try and heal any remaining rift between Red Bull’s Austrian and Thai fractions.
The news comes after Horner told Max Verstappen he could leave the team if he wanted.
It follows on from a whirlwind 10 days with Horner being cleared of inappropriate action towards a female colleague.
Verstappen threatened to quit Red Bull if team advisor Helmut Marko, 80, is forced out as the fallout from the Horner investigation continues.
Marko will meet Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff at the Saudi GP after being quizzed about the rumour that he could be suspended and forced to miss the next race in Australia.
Horner and his wife, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, put on another show of unity at the race in the wake of the sexting allegations.
SCANDAL... LAP BY LAP
FEBRUARY 5: A Dutch newspaper reports a female Red Bull employee has made serious allegations of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” about Horner to parent company Red Bull GmbH.
FEB 9: Horner is quizzed for nine hours by the lawyer hired by Red Bull to investigate.
FEB 15: He denies the allegations and says they are a distraction for the team.
FEB 15: F1 says it hopes the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.
FEB 26: Red Bull’s engine partner Ford says it is increasingly frustrated by the team’s handling of the complaint.
FEB 28: Horner is cleared of all wrongdoing. The employee is said to have the right of appeal.
FEB 29: Horner says he is pleased the investigation is over.
FEB 29: WhatsApp texts and pictures claimed to be between Horner and the employee are sent to journalists and F1.
MARCH 1: Horner refuses to comment on what he calls “anonymous speculation from unknown sources”.
MAR 2: Horner and wife Geri are pictured hand-in-hand, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner says before the race: “It’s been very testing for my family but we are very strong and our focus is on this race.”
MAR 3: Verstappen’s dad Jos, claims Red Bull is in “danger of being torn apart” if Horner stays in the job. He denies being the source of the WhatsApp leak, saying: “It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
MAR 6: Max Verstappen sides with his dad in the row.
MAR 7: Horner says he wants to draw a line under the scandal and hails Geri’s support — as Red Bull suspends the employee.
But her second public show of support in a week was dented by another jibe from Red Bull world champ Max Verstappen’s dad Jos, who repeated calls for Horner’s head.
And he twisted the knife by revealing he supports the unidentified team employee suspended after accusing her boss and sending hundreds of “sexually suggestive” texts.
On Thursday, Horner saluted his “phenomenally supportive” wife but insisted it was time to “draw a line” under the scandal.
But his accuser has won the support of UK parliament equality chief Caroline Nokes who encouraged her to take her case to an employment tribunal.
The Sun revealed on Thursday that Horner’s accuser had been suspended, with insiders alleging it was over “inconsistencies” in her evidence to a barrister-led probe.
Pals said Horner was finding it impossible to avoid his accuser at work who among 1,600 employees at the team’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
HR bosses stepped in and suspended her on full pay on Monday and she is currently mulling whether to appeal against the rejection of her complaint.
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