CHRISTIAN Horner has been CLEARED of any wrongdoing after bombshell claims were made by a female colleague about his behaviour.
The F1 chief, 50, will remain at the Red Bull Racing team’s helm after an internal three-week-long investigation dismissed the grievance.
ReutersChristian Horner pictured ahead of practice in Nevada in November 2023[/caption]
GettyHorner leads the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen[/caption]
GettyHorner with wife Geri, who he married in 2015[/caption]
Team principal Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was initially under investigation over alleged “inappropriate” behaviour towards a female staffer.
But it was later alleged that he sent the female employee “sexually suggestive” messages.
Horner, who is paid £8 million a year, vehemently denied all claims that threatened his position as leader of the all-conquering team of world champion Max Verstappen.
He has now been cleared of misconduct after an independent barrister was employed to review the evidence, Red Bull Austria this afternoon confirmed.
A Red Bull Austria spokesman said: “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.”
The team’s parent company confirmed the complainant “has a right of appeal”.
The spokesman added: “Red Bull is confident that 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.
“Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”
Horner today flew out to Bahrain ahead of the F1 season opener Grand Prix on Saturday – not knowing the outcome of the probe.
He arrived by private jet at 6:25pm local time – and just seven minutes later a statement was released from his team saying he had been cleared.
Over the more than three-week process of the probe, the message from within the team has been that it is “business as usual”.
Horner was present at the pre-season testing in Bahrain last week and Red Bull’s 2024 car launch days prior.
The team principal, who has led the Austrian team since its formation in 2005, was quizzed by an independent barrister in a private location late into the afternoon on February 9.
Horner is said to have privately vowed to his friends he will “clear his name”.
He will now lead the team into their 20th season in the sport having received the full support of Red Bull’s Thai owners, headed by Chalerm Yoovidhya, son of the firm’s co-founder Chaleo.
It comes as…
Horner flew to Bahrain without knowing probe outcome
Ford CEO demanded resolution into Horner probe
Max Verstappen spoke out about Horner’s investigation
Horner said he wanted a “conclusion as soon as possible”
Wife Geri Halliwell said she was “mortified and angry”
Horner probe came amid ‘power struggle’ at Red Bull
Red Bull has been under pressure to resolve the matter with Ford CEO Jim Farley demanding a resolution as he expressed his disapproval of “the unresolved allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull Racing leadership”.
Last week, Horner addressed the probe and declared he wanted a conclusion as “soon as possible”.
He was previously reportedly urged to resign by ex-F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone – and F1 insiders did not “expect him to survive in his role”, according to BBC Sport.
F1 was rocked by the news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.
Horner’s wife Geri, 51, is understood to be standing firmly by her husband, who she married in 2015.
Earlier this month, she was pictured smiling alongside her husband at a horse racing event in Badbury Rings, Dorset.
She was allegedly reduced to tears when news of the scandal broke – but privately insisted he did nothing wrong.
A look at Christian Horner’s life and career
CHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row
Horner previously praised his wife for her support and told Dutch journalists: “I have a very supportive family and a very supportive wife.
“My focus has been on the job and the season ahead. I’m not going to talk about private matters, but my family have been hugely supportive.”
The Red Bull Racing boss has reportedly referred to the allegations as “nuts”.
The F1 chief 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.
Ahead of the probe into Horner’s conduct, there were reports of an unrelated internal power struggle waging within Red Bull.
Rumours of issues between the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of billionaire co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022 and the team drafted a new board of directors.
Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team.
christianhorner/InstagramSpice Girl Geri Halliwell has spent a day at the races with her husband on Sunday[/caption]
GettyVerstappen and Horner the F1 Grand Prix of Qatar in October 2023[/caption]