Motorsport

THE female staffer who accused Red Bull chief Christian Horner of controlling behaviour has allegedly launched an appeal against the probe that saw him cleared.The unnamed woman at the centre of the “sexting” storm was suspended last week and is said to be disappointed by how the racing team dealt with the scandal.The female employee has reportedly launched an appeal against the internal probe that cleared Christian Horner of misconductCredit: GettyThe staffer has since been suspended and is said to be upset by Red Bull’s decisionCredit: GettyHorner and Geri put on a united front at the Saudi Arabia GP last weekendHorner, 50, was cleared of misconduct towards a female colleague – allegations he had always denied – by an internal probe on February 28.However, she is now understood to have new legal representation and has appealed the decision of the investigation, according to The Times.On March 7, the woman was suspended on full pay from Red Bull HQ amid claims her “honesty was called into question.”The reasons allegedly given to her were that she appeared dishonest owing to inconsistencies in the evidence she had provided.read more on christian hornerRed Bull Racing have been approached for comment.On Thursday, a friend of the unnamed staffer told MailOnline: “She is so disappointed with how it’s all gone, especially as she did everything by the book.”She raised her concerns in private and did everything right, but she feels very let down by the company.”They added: “The lack of support is noted and she’s just so disappointed with the treatment from her employer.”Most read in MotorsportInsiders said she had demanded to continue working among 1,400 employees at the top F1 team’s high tech HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.It comes after former F1 driver Christijan Albers warned a “lot more will surface” as he noted the under pressure Red Bull boss has a “terrifying amount of power” at the all-conquering team.Speaking to the Dutch outlet De Telegraaf he said it was “terrifying” Horner holds so much control despite the bombshell allegations against him.Albers said: “Because by the way it’s all being picked up and it’s just being waved away, then you make someone on the other side extra angry. I think a lot more will surface. “Then, still, [Horner has] this drive and envy to still be able to get that number one position and just chop everyone’s head off.”Spice Girls ‘rallying behind’ Geri Halliwell, Mel B says amid sexting scandal plaguing F1 boss husband Christian HornerMeanwhile, Max Verstappen’s dad Jos, 52, has backed the suspended female employee and called for Horner to be axed, accusing him of ripping the team apart.There are rumblings in the Vertsappen camp that the reigning world champ could quit Red Bull in the foreseeable future.Despite the ongoing saga, Horner has been putting forward a consistent business-as-usual front in his £8million-a-year role.The F1 chief and his Spice Girl wife Geri, 51, put on a united – if awkward – front last weekend at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.Speaking at the press conference, Horner said he was keen to “draw a line” under the scandal and that it was time to “focus on what is going on on track.”READ MORE SUN STORIESDespite Geri’s very visual display of standing by her man, sources claim that the singer is “in turmoil”.The F1 season returns next week in Melbourne for the Australian GP and the off-track drama has done little to slow down the dominating Verstappen, who has won both races easily.SCANDAL… LAP BY LAP
FEBRUARY 5: A Dutch newspaper reports a female Red Bull employee has made serious allegations of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” about Horner to parent company Red Bull GmbH.
FEB 9: Horner is quizzed for nine hours by the lawyer hired by Red Bull to investigate.
FEB 15: He denies the allegations and says they are a distraction for the team.
FEB 15: F1 says it hopes the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.
FEB 26: Red Bull’s engine partner Ford says it is increasingly frustrated by the team’s handling of the complaint.
FEB 28: Horner is cleared of all wrongdoing. The employee is said to have the right of appeal.
FEB 29: Horner says he is pleased the investigation is over.
FEB 29: WhatsApp texts and pictures claimed to be between Horner and the employee are sent to journalists and F1.
MARCH 1: Horner refuses to comment on what he calls “anonymous speculation from unknown sources”.
MAR 2: Horner and wife Geri are pictured hand-in-hand, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner says before the race: “It’s been very testing for my family but we are very strong and our focus is on this race.”
MAR 3: Verstappen’s dad Jos, claims Red Bull is in “danger of being torn apart” if Horner stays in the job. He denies being the source of the WhatsApp leak, saying: “It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
MAR 6: Max Verstappen sides with his dad in the row.
MAR 7: Horner says he wants to draw a line under the scandal and hails Geri’s support — as Red Bull suspends the employee.
MAR 15: Horner’s accuser allegedly launches an appeal against the investigation that saw the Red Bull chief cleared.

Jos Verstappen has called for Horner to be sacked amid the ongoing scandalCredit: GettyThe off-track drama has not deterred the dominance of three-time world champion VerstappenCredit: GettyHorner has been operating on a business-as-usual basis throughout the scandalCredit: Getty More

CHRISTIAN Horner’s accuser says she ‘feels let down’ by the Red Bull team after the F1 chief was cleared by an independent investigation. The woman at the centre of the sexting storm who was suspended by the Milton Keynes-based company last week is said to be left disappointed by how Red Bull has dealt with the scandal.Horner and Geri put on a united front in Saudi Arabia over the weekendCredit: RexHorner has been cleared by an independent investigationCredit: RexThe Spice Girl has been standing by her husband throughout the dramaCredit: The Mega AgencyThe F1 chief was cleared of accusations of controlling behaviour but the following day a dossier of text messages allegedly between Horner and the female staffer was leaked.The woman was suspended from Red Bull Racing HQ amid claims her “honesty was called into question.”A friend of the staffer, told MailOnline: “She is so disappointed with how it’s all gone, especially as she did everything by the book.”She raised her concerns in private and did everything right, but she feels very let down by the company.READ MORE ON HORNER”They have suspended her when she followed the proper process diligently and correctly.”But for all that, she was suspended from the job she loves and from a sport that she is highly regarded in.”The lack of support is noted and she’s just so disappointed with the treatment from her employer.”Look at what happened. She complained there was a supposedly transparent, independent investigation, Horner was cleared, and she was then suspended.”Most read in MotorsportThe staffer’s friend continued by casting doubt on Red Bull’s investigation adding: “Questions need to be asked of the Red Bull investigation, transparency would bring confidence in what is happening to her.”Who at Red Bull was tasked with establishing the facts? Who at Red Bull had access to all the confidential material that was used?”Who at Red Bull is making all these decisions and who at Red Bull is making efforts to establish the source of these leaks?”She just can’t get over the fact that she made a complaint and was suspended – all she wants is transparency in the process.”They added that the staffer has had lots of supporting messages from friends and family and even though she has been inundated with offers to share her side of the story, she has chosen to remain silent for the time being.The comment comes amid claims the employee is reportedly preparing to appeal.An F1 source told the outlet the way the sext storm has been handled will “discourage other women, who may have had similar issues in F1 from coming forward.”They told the outlet: “She didn’t seek any of this and now she has been suspend and the message is quite clear, it implies to women stay quiet and don’t speak out or you will lose your job.”It comes after former F1 driver Christijan Albers has warned a “lot more will surface” as he noted the Red Bull chief has a “terrifying amount of power.”Speaking to the Dutch outlet De Telegraaf he said it was “terrifying” Horner holds so much power despite the bombshell allegations against him.He said: “Because by the way it’s all being picked up and it’s just being waved away, then you make someone on the other side extra angry. I think a lot more will surface. “Then, still, [Horner has] this drive and envy to still be able to get that number one position and just chop everyone’s head off.”Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s dad Jos has backed the woman and has called for £8million-a-year Horner to be axed, accusing him of ripping the team apart.Horner and his wife Geri put on a united front over the weekend in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where they watched Max Verstappen claim another victory.READ MORE SUN STORIESSpeaking at the press conference the F1 chief said he was keen to “draw a line” under the scandal and that it was time to “focus on what is going on on track.”Despite seemingly standing by her man throughout the drama, Geri is said to be “in turmoil” over the sexting storm.Horner said it was time to “focus on what is going on on track”Credit: The Mega Agency More