CHRISTIAN Horner is set to lead Red Bull into the first day of testing this week as they gear up for the 2024/25 Formula One season.
The 50-year-old is thought to be jetting off to Bahrain in the coming hours despite the bombshell allegations against him still hanging over his head.
Horner is fighting to save his F1 career following shock allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague and claims he sent “sexually suggestive” texts.
Even though Horner has categorically denied the claims, Red Bull are continuing to investigate them and have already put Horner through an eight hour grilling.
Horner is due to arrive in the Gulf kingdom this evening to watch his star driver Max Verstappen take to the wheel of the RB20 for the first time around an F1 track in the coming days.
The successful Red Bull team principal is also expected to attend a press conference at the testing event alongside other F1 bosses.
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Horner, who has previously said everything is “business as usual” has already been present at secret Red Bull test runs and the RB20 launch event.
F1 released a statement on Sunday saying: “We hope that the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.
“We have noted Red Bull has instigated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing.
“We will not comment further at this time.”
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With Horner’s future reportedly still hanging in the balance it is unsure if he will be back in Bahrain for the F1 season opener on March 2.
Although it was recently announced that the final decision on Christian Horner’s Red Bull probe could be set to come out this week.
Ford reportedly put pressure on their future partners at Red Bull Racing to investigate the outcome “seriously but quickly”.
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 and if things aren’t dealt with soon.
The Financial Times reported this week 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.
And it is now believed that the decision around Horner’s future will be settled soon with The Times reporting that Red Bull have a desire to speed up the process and end the disruption around the team.
The media have focused on the allegations since they came out with Horner being quizzed by journalists at the recent Red Bull launch event over his alleged conduct.
The frenzy around Horner has been seen as a distraction at Red Bull as they look to retain their constructors title for 2024/25 and help World Champion Max Verstappen break even more records.
It comes as…
Horner – who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – has said to be hoping the investigation is resolved within the next week.
He is said to be happy to cooperate with the investigation for as long as necessary, including answering more questions from an independent lawyer.
WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED?
Red Bull opened up a serious investigation into the shock allegations by a female employee but fresh claims allege 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”.
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 and categorically denied any wrongdoing.
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.
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Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List.
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, pipping 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
