Red Bull Racing’s team principal Christian Horner is being accused of sexual misconduct in the investigation that is being held into his transgressive behaviour. According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, a female employee had filed the complaint with the parent company in December of 2023.
The external investigator tasked with the case has received the messages that were sent between Horner and the employee, and these allegedly show that the Briton’s misbehaviour are of sexual nature. The Dutch news outlet, usually well-informed on matters regarding Max Verstappen and his team Red Bull Racing, claims to have seen the messages and thus know the employee involved.
Since the news of the investigation broke on February 5th there have been multiple rumours on the exact nature of Horner’s transgressive behaviour, ranging from verbal abuse to sending explicit images, but De Telegraaf now claims the 50 year old team boss has regularly sent sexually explicit messages, over an extended period of time.
Horner was confronted with the investigation, supposedly on February 2nd, and within 24 hours an attempt was made to settle the issue for an alleged amount of £ 650.000 (roughly € 760.000). Given the fact that the investigation is continuing, it can safely be assumed the settlement was rejected by the employee.
Red Bull, the parent company, not the racing team, was quick to confirm the investigation into Horner’s behaviour when questioned by De Telegraaf, and it seems that Red Bull’s senior management, including Mark Mateschitz and sporting director Oliver Mintzlaff, is aware of the contents of the messages.
However, since Horner is favoured by Thai majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, there has been no sign of him (voluntarily) stepping down from his position as team principal, which according to rumours would then be filled in by the current sporting manager of the team, Jonathan Wheatley.
The husband of ex-Spice Girl Gari Halliwell was present at yesterday’s presentation of the Red Bull RB20 in Milton Keynes, and he continues to deny any wrong-doing. He also has vowed to be present at both Formula 1’s official test next week in Bahrain and the subsequent Grand Prix held on Saturday March 2nd.
Speaking on Friday at Daytona International Raceway ahead of NASCAR action this weekend, Global Director of Motorsports at Ford, Mark Rushbrook, was asked about the situation.
Ford is due to support Red Bull Racing and RB F1 in proving power units in from 2026 to 2030 as things stand.
“As a family company, and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behavior 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.”
