CHRISTIAN Horner has broken his silence after being cleared of sending improper messages to a female colleague.
The Red Bull Racing chief, 50, was pictured smiling as he arrived for the first practice session before the F1 season opener this weekend in Bahrain.
Horner, who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was yesterday told he could remain at the helm of world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team.
Former racing driver Horner’s £8 million-a-year job was secured after a three-week internal investigation dismissed the unidentified employee’s slur.
He said today he was “pleased” the investigation had been completed.
Horner had initially been under investigation over alleged inappropriate behaviour but the probe was later said to involve sending improper messages to the woman.
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The racing star had always vehemently denied the claims and vowed to fight to clear his name.
He flew out to Bahrain ahead of the opening Grand Prix of the season at the weekend where Verstappen will lead the team’s latest push for glory.
Today, The F1 boss looked relaxed as he arrived at the F1 paddock with chief technical officer, Adrian Newey.
He grinned as he got to work at the Bahrain International Circuit and hugged Verstappen as they greeted each other.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “I’m just pleased that the process is over, I can’t comment about it.
“The focus is very much now on the Grand Prix and the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles.
“I’m pleased to be here in Bahrain and with the team, focussed on the season ahead.
“The team has never been stronger.”
Red Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company yesterday confirmed the woman’s claims had been thrown out.
Horner’s wife Geri, who he wed in 2015, was said to be “relieved and elated” as her husband was cleared of any wrongdoing.
The 51-year-old singer had stood solidly by Horner during the three-week long probe.
A source close to Geri 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.”
Geri was said to have been left “in floods of tears” when the scandal first broke earlier this month and was supported by pals including her fellow Spice Girls.
A statement was released just minutes after Horner landed in the Gulf kingdom.
It said: “Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. 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.
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“Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”
The team’s parent company confirmed the complainant, who is understood to still be working at the team’s Milton Keynes HQ, “has a right of appeal”.
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
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
