- Christian Horner was accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a colleague
- After an inner probe, Horner was cleared of the allegations on Wednesday
- He was pictured in Bahrain forward of the season-opening race this weekend
Christian Horner has been pictured for the primary time since he was cleared of ‘coercive behaviour’ in direction of a feminine colleague on Wednesday.
The Red Bull chief – who earns £8m a 12 months – was the topic of an inner investigation after the accusations which first surfaced publicly on February 5.
Horner, spouse of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, denied all allegations and made his case to a KC, who was tasked as the interior investigator by the crew who’re the reigning world champions.
On Wednesday, information broke that the 50-year-old had been cleared of the allegations and would proceed in his function.
And on Thursday, he was noticed out and about in Bahrain forward of the primary observe session on the season-opening Grand Prix.
Red Bull chief Christian Horner has been pictured for the primary time since he was cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’ in direction of a feminine colleague on Wednesday afternoon
The allegations, which first broke on February 5, have dominated F1 over the previous month
Horner, 50, is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, and came upon on Wednesday afternoon he had been cleared and that might hold his £8million-a-year job main Red Bull
Horner was pictured out for breakfast forward of the Bahrain Grand Prix’s first observe session
Horner was seen alongside Red Bull lead designer Adrian Newey at breakfast and appeared to be in good spirits within the Bahrain sunshine.
The information that Horner would hold his job electrified a cool, nightfall paddock in Bahrain on Wednesday.
Horner, 50, had repeatedly insisted he was going nowhere all through the investigation.
He was greeted by the findings as he touched down within the Gulf Kingdom, with a press release from the world champion crew’s mum or dad firm Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg saying: ‘The impartial investigation into the allegations made in opposition to Mr Horner is full, and Red Bull can affirm that the grievance has been dismissed.
‘The complainant has a proper of attraction. Red Bull is assured that the investigation has been honest, rigorous and neutral.
‘The investigation report is confidential and incorporates the non-public data of the events and third events who assisted within the investigation, and, due to this fact, we is not going to be commenting additional out of respect for all involved. Red Bull will proceed striving to satisfy the best office requirements.’
The precise nature of the complaints stay unknown.
Horner was questioned by a KC for a full day at a secret location final month because the barrister gathered proof that he wrote up in 150 pages for the Red Bull board’s dedication over the previous couple of days.
The allegations have been made by an in depth colleague, with Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg, confirming an inner investigation on February 5.
Horner was awaiting their adjudication as he took his non-public jet on the three,000-mile journey from the UK to Bahrain for the opening race of the season this Saturday.
Horner was awaiting their adjudication as he took his non-public jet on the three,000-mile journey from the UK to Bahrain for the opening race of the season this Saturday.
He was mentioned to be in good spirits because the day developed, hoping his title could be cleared on touchdown within the Gulf kingdom on Wednesday afternoon. He didn’t flip up on the paddock.
Former popstar Geri, mom of their seven-year-old son Monty, has stood resolutely by him all through the ordeal. She is alleged to be ‘devastated’ by the jolt to their lives, which they cut up between their farmhouse (and stables) in Oxfordshire and a house in North London.
Horner has gained 13 world championships since heading the crew as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest crew principal on the grid, but is now its longest-serving.
He attended pre-season testing in Bahrain final week earlier than returning dwelling, his place seemingly rising stronger as the times progressed.
But he gave the impression to be up in opposition to forces ranged in opposition to him throughout the organisation, however the veracity of the accusations.
Ford, who’re coming into an engine partnership with Red Bull from 2026, led requires a swift conclusion to the saga. In a letter written final Friday, chief govt Jim Farley expressed his displeasure on the ‘unresolved allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull Racing management’.
Those requires readability on the earliest second have been echoed by F1’s American house owners, Liberty Media.
Horner was later pictured arriving on the Paddock forward of the primary observe session beginning
Throughout the probe, he had maintained his innocence and insisted he was going nowhere
Horner’s place was additionally undermined, it appeared, by the demise of the vitality drinks mogul who gave him his large break 19 years in the past on the helm of the brand new Red Bull crew. Dietrich Mateschitz died in 2022 of most cancers, a tragedy that inevitably shook up the administration construction, leaving executives jostling for place. One key mover is believed to have been Oliver Mintzlaff, the managing director and former CEO of RB Leipzig, who, it’s mentioned, resented Horner’s powerbase.
Horner, nonetheless, retained the help of Red Bull’s Thai faction, headed by Chalerm Yoovidhya, son of the agency’s co-founder Chaleo. Chalerm, as an inheritor to the corporate fortune with a 51 per cent stake in it, is estimated to be value £30billion. He turned up intermittently at races and could possibly be seen in lengthy and pleasant chats with the Englishman, together with when Verstappen clinched the third of his consecutive world titles in Qatar final October.
Another vital voice was that of Dr Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s 80-year-old motorsport adviser – an Austrian believed to be extra according to Mintzlaff than Horner.
‘Marko was given a contract renewal final 12 months, however he noticed his cash halved,’ mentioned one well-placed F1 determine. ‘There is the notion that he wished his revenge on Horner, and wished him out.’