A DEFIANT Christian Horner has hit back at claims surrounding the sext scandal insisting it’s time to “draw a line under it.”
Speaking at a press conference in Saudi Arabia, the F1 chief said it’s time to “focus on what is going on on track.”
GettyHorner said it’s now time to focus on what’s happening on the track[/caption]
APHorner has hit back after the Red Bull employee was suspended[/caption]
GettyGeri wanted her husband to cut all ties with his accuser[/caption]
He said: “Obviously there has been a lot of coverage surrounding this, but one has to go back to the basis of a grievance was raised, it was fully investigated, and it was dismissed.
“From there we move onwards. “
The Red Bull boss added: “I think the time now is to look forward and draw a line under it.
“We are here to go racing, we are here as a Formula 1 team, and the time now is to focus on what is going on on track and the performance of the cars and the drivers, where the spotlight should be during the course of a Grand Prix weekend.”
Horner’s statement comes right after it emerged his accuser has been suspended from Red Bull Racing HQ.
It comes following the bombshell leak of hundreds of “sexually suggestive” messages by the 50-year-old team boss.
A source told The Sun today: “It became obvious that the situation could not continue and it was decided to suspend her on full pay while internal inquiries continue.”
When asked about the suspension of the staffer, Horner replied: “I’m afraid I can’t comment on anything confidential between an employee and a company so I can’t comment on that.”
Horner went on saying the row had been “very hard” on his family , adding: “It is time now to focus on why we are here which is to go Formula One racing.”
The Red Bull chief who has always denied the claims, was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour last week.
The staffer who is understood to have shown up for work at the team’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks has been suspended on full pay.
Insiders said she had demanded to continue working at Red Bull – while Geri wanted her husband to cut all contact with the employee.
And she has instructed lawyers “at every turn” as Horner attempted to detach himself from her professionally and personally, The Sun was told today.
The source added: “Whenever she thought she was being sidelined her lawyers stepped in immediately.
“Something had to give and now she’s been suspended.”