FORMER F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has given his pal Christian Horner three key pieces of advice amid his “behaviour” probe.
The Red Bull Racing boss has been advised to “keep his head down” as Ecclestone warned that Horner has a target on his back.
Ecclestone – who has been friends with the successful team principle since 2005 – made it clear that Horner should focus on trying to shut out the bombshell allegations from his mind.
He said: “My advice to Christian, apart from keeping his head down, is to do nothing, wait and see what happens.”
Ecclestone, 93, spoke to AFP and told them that he still stays “in close contact” with Horner over the phone.
The pair grew close in Horner’s first season at Red Bull almost two decades ago when he joined the Formula One pitlane as the youngest team principal at just 31-years-old.
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At the time Ecclestone was thriving in his role as F1’s top boss – a job that made him a billionaire.
In the interview, Ecclestone also suggested that Horner had “made a lot of enemies” in the sport and claimed this could play a part in his potential downfall.
He said: “The trouble is once you are successful you make a lot of enemies and this is a case in point.
“Effectively they want to oust him.”
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Ahead of the probe into Horner’s conduct, there were reports of an unrelated internal power struggle waging within Red Bull.
Rumours of issues between the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of billionaire co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022 and the team drafted a new board of directors.
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.
Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team.
Ecclestone ended his interview saying: “I hope Christian keeps his head down and that someone talks individually to him and the woman and it is sorted out.”
Ecclestone has shown his support for Horner despite the claims prompting a big response from Red Bull Racing as they investigate a female staff members claims against Horner.
The 93-year-old billionaire former chief previously advised Horner to step down as Red Bull team principal, according to sources.
F1 Insider were told that Ecclestone warned his long-term friend that resigning would save him and his family from further damage caused by the fallout of the scandal.
WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED?
F1 was rocked over a week ago by the sudden news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.
It has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
Horner has reportedly referred to the allegations as “nuts” and said publicly: “I completely deny these claims.”
The Red Bull Racing boss, who has led the Austrian team since its formation in 2005, was quizzed by an independent barrister in a private location late into the afternoon last Friday.
The F1 chief was grilled for eight hours over his alleged “controlling behaviour” and is currently awaiting a decision – even though insiders reckon it could take months.
Horner forced a smile as he was picked up in a chauffeur-driven car from his North London home ahead of the critical hearing.
But an F1 source told The Sun last week that “Christian has not been sacked or asked to resign and he is not going to resign”.
They also revealed the investigation is nowhere near it’s end – with it potentially dragging into the new F1 season.
The insider said: “This is not a trial and we are not going to have an answer and an outcome by the end of the day.
“This is not something that is going to be rectified that quickly.
“People are expecting this to be over before the start of the F1 season, but that just isn’t going to happen.”
The 50-year-old – who strongly denies all the claims – was seen yesterday with the team at Silverstone where Red Bull’s new car was unveiled.
His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
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The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source has claimed.
Horner will attend Red Bull Racing’s season launch event tomorrow as planned in his first public appearance since facing the accusations.
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
