Ford urges Red Bull to be ‘transparent’ in Christian Horner probe amid claims he ‘sent sexual messages to employee’

FORD has urged Red Bull Racing to be “transparent” with their probe into the blockbuster claims against F1 chief Christian Horner.

Red Bull opened up a serious investigation into the shock allegations by a female employee but fresh claims say Horner also sent her “sexually suggestive” texts.

Horner — who has denied all of the allegations so far — was originally only under investigation over alleged controlling behaviour at work.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, claimed to have seen ­messages at the heart of the probe and have alleged they were “sexually orientated”.

Ford will be partners with Red Bull Racing from 2026 as the team’s engine supplier but sources say they could walk away from the deal in wake of the allegations.

The Financial Times reports that a private letter from the US carmaker to the owner of the F1 team allegedly urged Red Bull to be fully open in its findings, according to two people around Ford.

They claim Ford didn’t apply any pressure for a certain outcome to be reached but did stress that it expects the investigation to be done seriously but quickly.

Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Motorsport released a statement on Friday to the Associated Press saying: “As a family company, and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behaviour and integrity, we do expect the same from our partners.

“It appears to us, and what we’ve been told, was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course, they’re worried about their brand, as well.

“And that’s why they’ve got an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of that, it’s too early for us to comment on it all.”

So far, neither Horner or the woman have been suspended and have continued to work among 1,500 staff at Red Bull Racing’s British HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Horner publicly addressed the allegations against him for the first time at the launch of the RB20 this week.

He said: “Inevitably there has been a distraction, but the team are very together.

“Everybody’s focused on the season ahead, so it’s been very much business as ­normal and the support has been fantastic.

“In situations like these, you see where the strengths are, and it’s been overwhelming the support that I’ve had from within the team.

“There have been some allegations made, which I fully deny, so that the investigation is very much going on in the background whilst preparing for the season ahead, and hopefully it will be concluded in the near future.”

It comes as…

WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED?

F1 was rocked earlier this month 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.

This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.

Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.

The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims last week.

Most recently however, more allegations have come out as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.

Messages were said to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external ­barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.

De Telegraaf also claimed Horner’s lawyers tried to settle the case with a  payment — and that senior Red Bull management were aware of his offer.

Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and is thought to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.

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 its 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 investigation raises the question of who could take over the helm of the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen.

His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.

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. 

But Geri, 51, is understood to be standing by her husband.

She has told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”

Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.

Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world ­constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.

Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.

Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List.

Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk