Red Bull boss Christian Horner leaves residence forward of listening to tomorrow
- Accusation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ at Red Bull’s Formula One group
- Horner strongly refutes allegation and says: ‘I fully deny these claims’
Christian Horner has been seen leaving residence forward of a crunch listening to tomorrow following an accusation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ at Red Bull’s Formula One group.
The 50-year-old, who has been Red Bull group boss since 2005, was photographed driving his automotive away from his property in North London within the rain this morning. It was the primary time Horner has been seen because the allegations emerged on Monday.
Red Bull – the Austrian vitality drinks firm which owns the group – has stated it launched an impartial investigation after it was made conscious of the allegations.
The allegation has been made by one other member of workers for the British-based group which final yr took Max Verstappen to his third consecutive world championship.
The listening to is anticipated to happen at Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes. Horner strongly refutes the accusation and stated: ‘I fully deny these claims.’
A supply throughout the Red Bull group stated the claims associated to ‘controlling behaviour’. It is alleged that this was in the direction of a feminine colleague. Horner has additionally described the accusations as ‘nuts’, in a message protesting his innocence to MailOnline.
An exterior English KC lawyer has been appointed to research the criticism – made by the girl to the dad or mum agency in Austria moderately than the Red Bull group itself.
Red Bull Formula One group boss Christian Horner leaves his residence in North London as we speak
Christian Horner is seen this morning driving away from his property within the North London rain
Christian Horner and spouse Geri Halliwell at a e book launch on the Tower of London final October
Horner’s supporters declare he’s a pawn in a wider energy battle on the organisation, in a void that has come about after the loss of life of his essential ally, Dietrich Mateschitz, the smooth drinks magnate, who died in October 2022.
A good friend of Halliwell instructed MailOnline that she is ‘devastated’ over the allegations however will stand by him in public.
Horner has been group principal at Red Bull since their entry into F1 19 years in the past, overseeing seven drivers’ world championships and 6 constructors’ titles.
Red Bull received 21 of the 22 rounds staged final yr, with Verstappen setting a document of 10 consecutive victories as he cruised to his third title in as a few years.
Horner was awarded a CBE for his companies to motorsport within the New Year Honours List. He and Halliwell married in 2015 and have one baby collectively, seven-year-old Montague.
Red Bull are as a consequence of launch their newest automotive on February 15 forward of the brand new season which begins in Bahrain on March 2.
A spokesperson for Red Bull stated on Monday: ‘After being made conscious of sure current allegations, the corporate launched an impartial investigation.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner and his spouse Geri Halliwell on the Monaco Grand Prix final May
Halliwell and Horner on the Larkhill Royal Artillery Point to Point in Wiltshire on January 27
Horner with Red Bull’s Formula One champion Max Verstappen in Qatar on October 7 final yr
‘This course of, which is already beneath approach, is being carried out by an exterior specialist barrister.
‘The firm takes these issues extraordinarily severely and the investigation will likely be accomplished as quickly as virtually potential. It wouldn’t be applicable to remark additional at the moment.’
Horner and his group celebrated essentially the most dominant season in Formula One historical past final yr, with Dutch driver Max Verstappen taking his third title in a row and Red Bull successful 21 of twenty-two races.
The Briton is the longest serving group boss in Formula One and was by far the youngest when he led Red Bull into the game in 2005.
Under him, the group have received six constructors’ championships and 7 drivers’ titles and are favourites for an additional season of domination.
Should Horner have to face down, the impact on the game could be seismic.
Christian Horner with David Beckham on the grid on the Miami Grand Prix in May 2022
Christian Horner, pictured with Prince Harry earlier than the Texas Grand Prix in October final yr
Horner and Halliwell meet then-Prince Charles at a Prince’s Trust occasion in London in 2019
Red Bull’s different essential man within the paddock is Austrian motorsport advisor and former racer Helmut Marko, who’s now 80 years previous, not a group worker and never believed to have any management ambitions.
Marko has additionally been controversial, receiving a written warning from the game’s governing physique final September after he blamed the patchy type of the group’s Mexican driver Sergio Perez on his ethnicity.
There have been studies of friction between Horner and Marko because the loss of life in October 2022 of Red Bull’s Austrian co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz and the arrival of recent management on the vitality drink model.
Williams group boss James Vowles stated: ‘The sport, wind again 20 years, (was) male-dominated with out query. If you needed to ask me what made up a group, it might be white, greater than doubtless male, extra doubtless 40 years previous. That’s altering and it is solely a optimistic that it is altering.
‘These allegations are allegations. I’m afraid I haven’t got any understanding of what’s behind them and the importance of what has occurred.
‘Should this ever occur on our guard (at Williams) we’ll be supportive by way of fixing it and ensuring we have now a tradition accepting of everybody.’
