CHRISTIAN Horner will face his hearing today over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female member of staff at Red Bull.
The crunch talks will determine whether the F1 chief, 50, will keep his job as the team’s head.
Horner is said to be preparing to fight to save his future at Red Bull after he vowed to pals to “clear his name.”
An independent lawyer who has been appointed to examine the woman’s claims is set to quiz him at the meeting today.
Read our live blog below for the latest news and updates…
When does the F1 season start?
The 2024 Formula One season begins in just a few short weeks.
The action kicks off in Sakhir on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Red Bull is reportedly hoping to have its internal investigation completed by then, although that has not been confirmed.
Christian Horner pictured ahead of talks
Christian Horner was pictured ahead of his hearing today over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female member of staff.
The meeting – which will determine whether the F1 chief, 50, will keep his job as the team’s head – was moved last minute to a secret location.
The ‘Kardashian-style’ scandals that plagued Christian Horner’s Red Bull
The Red Bull F1 team has been plagued with controversy in recent years.
So we looked back on seven of the scandals that hit Christian Horner’s team prior to this week’s allegations.
From the team’s drivers clashing to accusations of “xenophobia” it hasn’t always been an easy ride for the Austrian team.
Horner continued in role amid allegations
Neither Horner nor his accuser have been suspended and continue to work among 1,600 employees at Red Bull’s HQ.
Horner was seen on Thursday leaving his Highgate home for the first time since news broke of the bombshell allegations.
And today the F1 boss is reportedly attending a hearing to determine his future at the company.
Where is the meeting taking place?
Originally set to take place in Red Bull’s Milton Keynes HQ, it is believed the meeting’s location was moved amid high media interest.
Now, it has been reported the hearing will take place in London.
No outcome is expected today.
External lawyer hired to probe claims
The world of Formula One was left in shock on Monday after it emerged that Horner had been placed under investigation by Red Bull Austria.
The parent company said that after being informed of “certain recent allegations” it had hired an “external, specialist lawyer” to probe the claims.
It has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female staffer.
Who could replace Christian Horner?
Perhaps the first name that comes to mind is Oliver Oakes.
Oakes, 35, would be a ready-made replacement, owing to the similar career path he shares with Horner.
The Brit is a former racing driver turned team-owner in the lower formulas.
However, Oakes is also a former Red Bull junior driver so has strong links with the race team and the company’s HQ in Austria.
What is Christian Horner’s net worth?
Christian has amassed considerable wealth thanks to his career in motorsport racing.
He is the highest-paid team boss in F1 and has an estimated salary of around £8million ($10m) a year after joining Red Bull in 2005.
With that in mind, he has collected a reported £440million fortune.
What has Christian Horner been accused of?
Formula One was rocked on Monday by the news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull Austria.
The company has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards one female staffer, The Telegraph reports.
Horner issued an immediate denial on Monday, stating: “I reject these claims entirely.”
Geri Halliwell supporting husband with ‘every fibre of her being’
Geri Halliwell is standing by her husband Christian Horner, a source has said.
The source revealed: “She is committed to him with every fibre of her being.”
However, the scandal engulfing her husband has blown a “Grand Canyon-sized crack” right in the middle of her “super-perfect, super-posh life,” they claimed.
Another source close the singer told The Sun on Monday: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
“She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
Geri Halliwell ‘too upset to talk’ amid Christian Horner allegations
A friend revealed that Geri Halliwell is “not talking to anyone at the moment,” following the emergence of allegations against husband Christian Horner.
They told the Daily Mail: “Geri seems to be simply too upset to engage with anyone. Just lots of tears.
“She will stand by him and be at his side just as much as she always has been. She never misses a race and that will not change.”
Red Bull hopes for resolution before season begins
Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race meeting of the new F1 season, which starts in Bahrain at the end of the month.
Neither Horner nor his accuser have been suspended and continue to work among 1,600 employees at the Austrian team’s HQ.
Horner was seen on Thursday leaving his Highgate home for the first time since news broke of the bombshell allegations.
Hearing location moved amid high media interest
The hearing was initially meant to be held at the Red Bull team headquarters in Milton Keynes, Bucks, but the high media interest forced officials to move it to a different location, the Times reports.
Horner is said to be preparing to fight to save his future at Red Bull after he vowed to pals to “clear his name.”
An independent lawyer who has been appointed to examine the allegations is set to quiz him at the meeting today.
Who is Red Bull’s chief executive?
Since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022 there have been rumours of internal issues within Red Bull.
After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted a new board of directors to oversee the business.
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.
What has Christian Horner said about the claims?
Horner issued an immediate denial on Monday, stating: “I reject these claims entirely.”
His defenders have claimed the accusations are part of a plot to oust him within the team amid an internal power struggle.
Geri will standby her husband
Horner’s Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell, 51, is said to be devastated by the bombshell allegations – but will firmly stand by her husband, who she married in 2015.
A source said: “[She is] not talking to anyone at the moment. Geri seems to be simply too upset to engage with anyone. Just lots of tears.
“She will stand by him and be at his side just as much as she always has been. She never misses a race and that will not change.”
External lawyer hired to probe claims
The world of Formula One was left in shock on Monday after it emerged that Horner had been placed under investigation by Red Bull Austria.
The parent company said that after being informed of “certain recent allegations” it had hired an “external, specialist lawyer” to probe the claims.
It has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female staffer.
Red Bull want the issue resolved before first race meeting
Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race meeting of the new F1 season, which starts in Bahrain at the end of the month.
Neither Horner nor his accuser have been suspended and continue to work among 1,600 employees at the Austrian team’s HQ.
Christian Horner pictured ahead of talks
Christian Horner was pictured ahead of his hearing today over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female member of staff.
The meeting – which will determine whether the F1 chief, 50, will keep his job as the team’s head – was moved last-minute to a secret location.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
