F1 champion Max Verstappen has spoken out about Christian Horner’s “sexting” investigation amid mounting pressure on Red Bull to resolve the matter.
A probe into allegations of controlling behaviour and sexting made by a female staffer against the Red Bull chief was launched three weeks ago.
It is understood the outcome of the investigation could be revealed as soon as tomorrow, the day before the first press conferences for the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix.
Earlier today Ford CEO Jim Farley demanded a resolution to the investigation into Horner as he expressed his disapproval of “the unresolved allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Red Bull Racing leadership”.
The Red Bull boss, 50, has vehemently denied all the allegations and declared he wanted a conclusion as “soon as possible” when he addressed the probe.
While Horner and his supporting wife Geri are anxiously waiting to find out his fate, Verstappen said it will be “nice for everyone” at Red Bull when the investigation is resolved.
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Speaking to media at the Milton Keynes launch, the Red Bull driver said: “I mean in terms of talking about that, it’s not that suddenly sat here, that I can speak about things.
“So it’s better that I just focus on my own performance because that’s already the day job.
“But I guess, of course, for everyone, it’s nice, of course, when things are resolved. But that’s the only thing that I can say about that.
“Everyone who is here, they’re all focusing on the performance of the car, as they should.
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“Everyone knows their role and everyone is very focused on trying to make the whole package faster.”
Verstappen had previously defended Horner, stating that despite the scandal everything was “the same” between him and his team principal.
He told reporters at the RB20 unveiling on February 15: “It’s the same as always, I can tell you that.
“I don’t know who likes to write these things but to me, Christian is like always.”
The world champion added that he was focused on other things.
“From my side I am very focused on my own performance to get ready, to be fit, to be ready to drive the car.”
It comes as Horner revealed that Daniel Ricciardo is the driver who has “first place in his heart” – instead of the three-times champion Dutchman.
In the latest episode of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, Horner asked his daughter who her favourite driver was – to which she replied “all of them.”‘
But when asked the same question, the 50-year-old surprised everyone with his answer “Daniel Ricciardo.”
Meanwhile, ex-Red Bull driver Christian Klien told the Red Bull-owned broadcaster Servus TV: “Christian is an incredibly big part of the team and helped build it from the ground up, as we know.
“But he’s also a cog in the machine, I would say.
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Red Bull arrived in Bahrain last Tuesday evening for pre-season testing, with Horner still in his £8-million-a-year role.
The bombshell claims that have rocked F1
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.
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”.
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
So far, it has been ‘”business as usual” in the pit lane – the team principal’s go-to phrase since news of the scandal broke.
A final decision is expected before the opening Grand Prix race kicks off on March 2.
Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell, 51, is understood to be standing firmly by her husband, who she married in 2015.
She was allegedly reduced to tears when news of the scandal broke – but privately insisted he did nothing wrong.
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Last weekend, she was pictured smiling alongside her husband at a horse racing event in Badbury Rings, Dorset.
But fresh reports say the Spice Girls star is “mortified and angry” over the probe.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
