Motorsport

SEXT probe F1 boss Christian Horner’s accuser has been suspended after the row hit breaking point.The employee has not been at Horner’s Red Bull Racing HQ since Monday after being told to stay at home.Red Bull boss Christian Horner in the Paddock ahead of F1 practice today in Saudi ArabiaChristian Horner with wife Geri at the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix last weekendF1 champion Max Verstappen with boss Horner after winning the season-opener race last weekendIt comes following the bombshell leak of hundreds of “sexually suggestive” messages by the 50-year-old team boss.Allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner were dismissed by a barrister-led probe. A source told The Sun today: “It became obvious that the situation could not continue and it was decided to suspend her on full pay while internal inquiries continue.”Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell, 51, has been left heartbroken by the scandal, which erupted when a raft of embarrassing messages were released online on the eve of the F1 season opener.READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNERThe pop icon put on a toe-curling show of unity at last week’s Bahrain Grand Prix in which Red Bull pulled off a perfect 1-2 triumph led by world champ Max Verstappen.Geri wanted her husband to cut all contact with his unidentified accuser – but he found it impossible to comply as they remained in regular contact at work.While Geri will be pleased with the outcome, there’s no suggestion her demand that she be taken “out of the picture” is what led to the suspension. She is now reportedly expected to join Christian in Jeddah this weekend ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on Saturday. Most read in MotorsportFrustrations came to a head on Monday following a series of interventions by high-powered lawyers the woman engaged to maintain her role.HR bosses stepped in and suspended her on full pay pending the outcome of the internal inquiry rumbling on over the scandal.Insiders said she had demanded to continue working among 1,400 employees at the top F1 team’s high tech HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.Watch moment Christian Horner & Max Verstappen’s dad Jos have ‘heated’ exchange as team ‘torn apart’ by sext rowAnd she has instructed lawyers “at every turn” as Horner attempted to detach himself from her professionally and personally, The Sun was told today.The source added: “Whenever she thought she was being sidelined her lawyers stepped in immediately.“Something had to give and now she’s been suspended.”How Christian Horner’s shock texts were leakedBy Ben Hunt
IT was an anonymous email sent and designed for maximum impact.
It landed in my inbox almost 24 hours to the minute since Christian Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing following Red Bull’s internal investigation.
Other names included Liberty Media chief Greg Maffei, who owns the rights to F1. The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Dominacali.
The F1 team bosses were also included for good measure. As was Max Verstappen’s father, Jos.
It was from an anonymous sender, the title was simply the date – ‘Feb Twenty Nine’.
Inside it was a Google Drive link containing 79 files claiming to be the evidence from the independent investigation.
There is no way of knowing if they were real or fake yet irrespectively it sent another shockwave through the F1 paddock before this season had even started.
Horner was sitting on the team’s pitwall during second practice in Bahrain when the email dropped.
After the session, he walked out of the team’s garage and into the hospitality unit where he remained as the nuclear fallout began.
He’d survived the outcome of the internal investigation into improper conduct following a complaint from a female colleague.
One wonders whether he will survive this time after this very public humiliation – again, irrespective if they were indeed real or fake.
Just hours earlier, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, called on the sport’s governing body, the FIA, demanding transparency.
“I just read the statement, which was pretty basic,” said Wolff. “My personal opinion is we can’t really look behind the curtain.
“There is a lady in an organisation that has spoken to HR and said there was an issue and it was investigated and yesterday the sport has received the message that it’s all fine, we’ve looked at it.
“I believe with the aspiration as a global sport, on such critical topics, it needs more transparency and I wonder what the sport’s position is?
“We’re competitors, we’re a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not. But it’s more like a general reaction or action that we as a sport need to assess, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.
“Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values based on the speculation that is out there? As a sport, we cannot afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this, because this is going to catch us out.”
Brown added: “It’s the responsibility ultimately of the organisers of Formula One, the owners of Formula One, to make sure that all the racing teams and the personnel and the drivers and everyone else involved in the sport are operating in a manner in which we all live by.
“I don’t think it’s the teams’ roles and responsibilities. That’s up to FIA and Formula One to ultimately decide and ask what they feel gives them the level of transparency they need to ultimately come to their conclusion and we just have to count on them that they fulfil that obligation to all of us.”
The emailed file will only increase that pressure in the form of scrutiny on Horner – who has always denied the accusations.
It does also put Red Bull in a tricky position.
Should the emailed file be legitimate and have made up elements from the initial report, which had been thoroughly examined and presented by the independent KC, then surely this is nothing new to them and their decision to stick with their team principal remains.
To perform a u-turn on that simply now they have become public would possibly see criticism that they intended to keep their report private to save face.
Whatever the outcome, it is a mess for the world champions.Reports of a wedge driven between Horner and Verstappen’s father have grown in recent weeks.
So it was interesting that Jos Verstappen was in the paddock and wearing a team jacket and seemed unmoved to the chaos happening around him.

The ongoing saga dogging Red Bull has been complicated by behind-the-scenes clashes between star driver Verstappen’s father Jos, 51, and Horner.Insiders said Jos had become close to the woman – but he has strenuously denied being the text leaker while warning Horner’s team will “explode” if he is not ousted.Red Bull Racing said today: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter.”Horner, 50, was seen in the Saudi Arabia paddock today for practice ahead of the next race without Geri by his side.Geri was mid-air on her way to Bahrain after her husband was cleared when the texts were published widely online via an anonymous email drop.She was apparently “relieved and elated” after the complaint was initially thrown out, but later left “stunned” by the leaked messages.Halliwell and Horner have been married since 2015 and share a son.Tensions inside the Red Bull team are mounting after Jos warned the camp could “explode” if Horner stays in his £8million-a-year role.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe two men were seen locked in what looked like a fiery argument during the F1 season opener — in which Red Bull stormed to first and second places thanks to Max and team-mate Sergio Perez.Sky Sports footage showed Horner and Jos apparently arguing, following reports they have previously clashed in a rift that has lasted for months.Geri flew to Bahrain last weekend and put on a very public show of support with husband HornerThe pair have been married since 2015 and share a sonTensions are rising in the Red Bull camp as Jos Verstappen has been outspoken following Horner’s sexting scandal More

MAX VERSTAPPEN has sided with his dad in the bitter row that threatens to rip Red Bull apart.Jos Verstappen claimed following his son’s win in Bahrain last week that Red Bull would “explode” if Christian Horner remained in charge.Max Verstappen (R) has sided with his dad Jos (L) in Red Bull’s bitter rowCredit: GettyJos Verstappen has been outspoken following the controversy surrounding Christian HornerCredit: GettyLast week, Horner was cleared of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague following an internal investigation.But the Red Bull boss was then plunged back into a crisis following an anonymous email leak of WhatsApp exchanges claiming to be evidence from the investigation.Horner will be given a show of support on Thursday ahead of the Saudi GP from Red Bull’s Austria HQ in the form of CEO Franz Watzlawick and Oliver Mintzlaff, who heads up the energy drink’s corporate projects and investments department.However, Verstappen, who as a result of his dad’s row with Horner, has since been linked with a switch to Mercedes, said: “My dad is always very outspoken. He’s not a liar, that’s for sure.”READ MORE IN F1When asked further about his relationship with his father and manager, Raymond Vermeulen, Verstappen says they will ALWAYS be by his side while he is racing in F1.He added: “I don’t see myself in F1 without them by my side for sure.”Verstappen is hoping that the situation now simmers down ahead of this week’s Saudi GP.When asked about his dad’s comment that Red Bull could “explode”, Verstappen added: “I don’t know, I hope not! It shouldn’t be. It’s a strong company, it’s a strong team, a lot of strong team members, so normally not.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSVerstappen doesn’t see a world in F1 without his dad by his sideCredit: GettyThe dominant driver won the Bahrain GP last weekendCredit: Getty”If you have arguments or not, there’s always things that can be worked out.”Everyone is man enough and respectful enough to each other in that sense.Christian Horner gives defiant seven-word statment amid sext leak storm after Bahrain Grand Prix win”I’ve also not also agreed with everything that happened, not talking about lately or whatever, just in general in F1.”Sometimes it’s good to have a discussion about things. You might agree to disagree sometimes, that’s what happens in a relationship.”It’s not about being isolated from it. I think you could see in Bahrain that it doesn’t affect the performance of the team.”Ideally as a team, you wouldn’t like to have these moments, but it also shows that I think we are all focused on our job and that’s to perform on the track.”Verstappen Snr is not at this week’s race and not scheduled to attend a race for a number of months.However, his son has been left in the mess left in his wake and for the meantime will work with Horner as they look to retain their world titles.However, Verstappen, 26, was coy on links with Mercedes – who are run by boss Toto Wolff, who is friends with Jos Verstappen.When asked if he will see out his deal with Red Bull that runs until 2028 and worth £43m a year, he said: “That has always been the intention of signing. Verstappen’s current deal with Red Bull expires in 2028Credit: Getty”That’s why we signed so long to be here. And of course it’s about the performance of the car.”Of course from 2026 onwards, that is a bit of a question mark with new regulations, but I knew that when I signed my contract.”I also know what they have done for me in my career. The intention is of course absolutely to stay with this team,”Because I really enjoy it and I’m really happy within the team, and as long as we perform, there is no reason to leave.”However, when asked about the Mercedes possibility where he would replace Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton next season, he added: “Well the thing is, no-one would ever have realised or seen that Lewis would move to Ferrari.”In my life, that’s not related to F1 or whatever, it’s just general life, you never know what happens or what comes around you, or what might influence you.READ MORE SUN STORIES”So you can never say 100 percent that’s how it’s going to be. I approach my life like that, but I also don’t think about it too much.”I’m very relaxed, very happy at the team, the performance is there, there’s no reason to leave.”Verstappen hasn’t ruled out replacing Lewis Hamilton at MercedesCredit: Splash More

CHRISTIAN Horner’s accuser has until the end of today to file an appeal over Red Bull’s decision to clear him of any wrongdoing.The anonymous female staffer has armed herself with a team of lawyers as the F1 chief clings on to his £8 million-a-year job.Christian Horner’s accuser could launch an appeal over the decision to clear him of wrongdoingCredit: GettyHorner and wife Geri put on a united front on SaturdayCredit: GettyAllegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour against Horner were dismissed last Wednesday following an internal probe.But just 24 hours later his private conversations with an alleged female colleague were leaked online.Some appeared to show him asking the woman for pictures.Horner, who remains at the helm of the Red Bull Racing team, has always vehemently denied all accusations.More on Christian HornerDespite dozens of messages being shared last week – many of which were sexually suggestive in nature – Red Bull’s board has continued to stand by him.As with the three-week investigation, it has been “business as usual” at the Red Bull camp, with Horner shrugging off the sexting scandal at the Bahrain Grand Prix over the weekend.The female staffer is understood to be still going to work at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes HQ, reports The Times.She remains in contact with Horner due to the nature of her role.Most read in MotorsportFollowing the decision last Wednesday, the woman was told she had five working days to appeal against the decision to clear Horner, insiders said. It means she must file an appeal before today’s deadline if she wishes to.Watch moment Christian Horner & Max Verstappen’s dad Jos have ‘heated’ exchange as team ‘torn apart’ by sext rowOne insider told The Times: “She’s taken on her lawyers. People don’t just roll over in these cases.”After being left in “floods of tears” by the probe, Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell has now demanded he cut contact with the female employee he’s accused of sexting.The Spice Girl, who staged a public show of support for F1 boss Horner in Bahrain, wants the employee “out of the picture”.Devastated Geri, 51, is also understood to have laid down ground rules over her hubby’s future behaviour — including on messages he sends on his phone.The pair shared an awkward hug and kiss for the cameras in the Middle East on Saturday.It comes as as tensions mount in the Red Bull camp after top driver Max Verstappen’s dad warned the team will “explode” if Horner stays.Horner and Jos, 52, were seen locked in a fiery exchange in Bahrain just days ago.The Red Bull chief met with Max Verstappen’s rep on Monday in a bid to calm soaring tensions.But the pair appear to be at odds as rumours continue that Jos wants Horner fired or he will push for his racing star son Max to move to rival teams Ferrari or Mercedes.Jos’s close friendship with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff could help steer Max into jumping ship and taking the seat left vacant by Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton.On Sunday, Jos was even forced to deny he was behind the leaking of Horner’s alleged sexts.When asked if he was involved, Jos shot back: “That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?”Rumours suggest Verstappen Snr and Horner have been clashing for months – a row that is threatening to rip Red Bull apart if Max is forced to choose between his father or his boss.After the race in Bahrain, Jos bluntly told the media that Red Bull Racing will “explode” if Horner remains team principal.“There is tension here while he remains in position,” he said.”The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode.”He is playing the victim, when he is causing the problems.”READ MORE SUN STORIESJos has overseen his son’s career like a hawk after taking part in 106 races as an F1 driver himself.Horner and Jos Verstappen appeared locked in a fiery exchange just days agoCredit: Getty More