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F1 BOSS Christian Horner has been cleared of sending improper messages to a female employee – but the saga could be far from over.
The Red Bull team principal must now attempt to rebuild his crisis-hit team after a tumultuous three weeks spent fighting for his career.
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Horner, 50, was revealed on February 5 to be the subject of a formal complaint by a female colleague alleging controlling and coercive behaviour, with the probe later said to involve him allegedly sending improper messages to a woman.
He vehemently denied the bombshell claims.
Following a gruelling three-week internal investigation, he was yesterday cleared of any wrongdoing and it was confirmed he would keep his £8million-a-year job.
A source told The Sun last night: “Christian’s career, his marriage and his reputation were attacked but there are now no question marks over his character.
“There is no shadow. But questions are being asked about how this happened, why it happened, and who was responsible.”
The former racing driver returned to the trackside for the first time today – all smiles and with a big task ahead of him.
He must now repair the damage and provide assurances that his relationship with Red Bull world champ Max Verstappen, 26, remains strong enough to deliver a fourth consecutive drivers’ title.
Some insiders believe Horner and Verstappen’s relationship is sufficiently healthy, The Times reports, despite the young driver choosing not to publicly support his boss yesterday.
When asked during a press conference if he was completely behind Horner, Verstappen said: “Well, I’m trusting the process, that’s what’s happening right now. I do not want to get into that.
“Because it’s not my case anyway and I don’t want to be involved. But as a team, yeah, we do trust that process and we just have to be patient, because there’s no need to start saying things, start screaming things out loud. You have to be patient.”
Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former racing driver, is reportedly a friend of the female complainant, who worked at Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes as recently as Monday.
Horner flew to Bahrain yesterday – accompanied by a senior adviser to the team, Helmut Marko – ahead of the F1 season’s opening race on Saturday, where Verstappen is hoped to lead the team to glory.
The Red Bull boss told Sky Sports in Bahrain this morning: “I’m just pleased that the process is over.
“I’m here very much now to focus on the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles.
He added that unity in the team “has never been stronger”.
There is confidence in the Red Bull camp that Horner’s position is secure, even if the female complainant appeals the decision – which she has the right to do.
A spokesman for Red Bull GmbH said: “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.
“Red Bull is confident the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned.”
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AFP
GettyThe report by the King’s Counsel, within which the grievance was dismissed, is understood be about 150 pages and was based on 60 hours of interviews with Horner and other staff members.
Horner himself endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 51, was said to be “relieved and elated” last night when her F1 boss husband was cleared of wrongdoing.
She had stood solidly by Horner, who she married in 2015, from the moment the claims against him were made public.
A source said: “This has been weeks of hell for Christian and his family.
“As he has said all along, these claims are ‘nuts’.
“An exhaustive investigation has been carried out and the allegations have proven to be nonsense.
“Geri has been rock solid behind Christian – and his whole family is relieved and elated that it’s over. Those feelings are there but no one close to Christian feels like celebrating much after what he’s been through.
“For the time being his focus is back fully on winning races.”
The former popstar was reportedly left “in floods of tears” when the scandal broke earlier this month and was supported by pals including her fellow Spice Girls.
I’m just pleased that the process is over. I’m here very much now to focus on the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles
Christian HornerShe may join her husband in Bahrain this weekend.
What lies ahead for Horner’s career remains unclear, with some reportedly displeased by a lack of transparency in the investigation and others relieved to hear he was exonerated.
The team principal’s position has been more precarious since his ally and Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz died in October 2022.
Horner has reportedly managed to retain support from Chalerm Yoovidhya, who controls 51 per cent of Red Bull and is the eldest son of Chaleo, the Thai businessman who co-created Red Bull in 1984.
But not everyone feels warmly toward him and there have been talks, instigated by Red Bull Austria, of a possible reshuffle in the future.
The possibility of such was dismissed – at least in the short term – by sources last night who insisted Horner would remain both team principal and chief executive of the all-conquering F1 team.
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GettyWhat was claimed?
F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that the sport's longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull's Austria-based parent company.
This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
Most recently, however, more allegations came as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent improper messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.
Messages were claimed to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.
Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and is thought to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.
The investigation raised the question of who could take over the helm of the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen.
His wife Geri Halliwell was also said to be “terrified her life would unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, feared the drama will drag on for years, a source claimed.
But Geri, 51, stood by her husband.
She told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”
Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.
Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.
Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List.
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