Christian Horner is facing fresh turmoil today after new allegations were published in a bombshell 19-page investigation that names his accuser – as footage emerged of the scandal-hit F1 boss having a blazing row with his nemesis Jos Verstappen.
Geri Halliwell’s husband was cleared last Wednesday of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female colleague at Red Bull before screenshots of texts allegedly exchanged between the pair were leaked via an anonymous email.
The 50-year-old was spotted hugging and kissing Halliwell at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday in a show of unity.
However, Horner’s attempts to move on from the scandal have been hampered by the publication of a long investigation into the case by trade publication BusinessF1 Magazine.
The article makes a series of new allegations against Horner, names the female member of staff he is alleged to have texted and documents the power struggle at the top of Red Bull.
Sources close to Horner have dismissed the piece as ‘full of inaccuracies’, The Times reported, but it may be seized upon by his critics.
Foremost among these has been Red Bull star Max Verstappen’s father Jos, who has warned that the ongoing scandal was ‘driving the team apart’. Footage has emerged of the pair having an animated exchange at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday.
Red Bull have denied bombshell claims from a F1 trade magazine over Christian Horner in a 19-page investigation which names the female member of staff he allegedly texted
Horner was seen having an animated discussion with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, in the Red Bull motorhome during the weekend of the Bahrain Grand Prix
Both Verstappen and Horner were seen waving their arms about during their behind-closed-doors discussion
Horner and wife Geri Halliwell put on a united front during the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday.
The author of the BusinessF1 Magazine article is Tom Rubython, who has run the publication since 2003.
The 68-year-old was quoted as saying: ‘They’ve forgotten about us. They [Red Bull Racing] are so busy chasing mainstream media they forgot our magazine is coming out.
‘Our magazine is usually about business, sponsorship and engines — a good old scandal is very rare.’
Mr Rubython also admitted that he did not put his claims to Red Bull before publication – known in journalism as a ‘right of reply’.
He said: ‘If I’d put the claims to Christian I’d have had an immediate injunction or attempted injunction… Harbottle [Horner’s lawyers] are going to have a problem if they go for us in the morning. Whether they will or not, I do have a certain reputation of not caving.’
Despite the controversy off-track, on the circuit Horner’s Red Bull team got the season off to a perfect start, with Max Verstappen winning the season-opener ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez.
However, Max’s father Jos has emerged as one of Horner’s most vocal critics, with the pair filmed having a heated conversation after qualifying on Friday night.
Horner, the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is facing further heat after screenshots of a text conversation allegedly between the 50-year-old and the employee that made ‘coercive behaviour’ allegations against him were leaked via an anonymous email
Jos (right) told Mail Sport that Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner kept his team principal role
What Christian and Jos were discussing in a team trailer remains a secret – although Horner was clearly agitated and seen pointing outside and waving his hand around. Jos had his hands in his pockets.
Jos has insisted that Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner remains as team principal after messages and pictures the Red Bull team principal sent to a female employee were leaked. He says Christian is playing the victim.
Friday’s footage has sparked wild speculation online about what the apparently fiery conversation entailed. Many believe it is a hint that Max Verstappen could try to force a move to Ferrari and join Lewis Hamilton if Horner holds on to his £8million-a-year job. There is also an empty seat at Mercedes when Lewis leaves at the end of 2024.
Others have suggested Jos could have been defending the female employee or telling Christian that he should fall on his sword.
His Dutch maestro son Max has refused on four occasions in press conferences over the past weekend to offer Horner unconditional backing, but insiders have said he is believed to be in general support of his father’s stance.
ESPN have reported that Jos will not attend the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend following comments he made about Horner.
Verstappen Snr (right) reportedly won’t attend the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to his comments about Horner
Horner was seen alongside wife Halliwell as they watched the podium celebrations after Red Bull took a 1-2 victory led by Max Verstappen at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix
According to his affiliates, Horner believes Verstappen Snr has orchestrated a campaign to unseat him for the past few weeks, the implication being that the Dutchman may even have had a hand in the email leak.
‘There is tension here while he (Horner) remains in position,’ Jos exclusively told Mail Sport.
‘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 the one causing the problems.’
The Telegraph, reported that Verstappen’s father has told friends his son will move on from Red Bull if he has to.
Verstappen Snr was seen speaking to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff during the weekend of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Mercedes have an empty seat for the 2025 season, though Verstappen is contracted at Red Bull until 2028 and is currently driving for the dominant team in Formula One.
Jos denies the claims, saying: ‘That wouldn’t make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?’
Triple world champion Max already looks on course for a fourth consecutive title after dominating the Bahrain Grand Prix, in a Red Bull 1-2 from team-mate Sergio Perez.
Though the team’s on-track performance gave Horner something to smile about, there is still a lot to contend with off-track.
Horner and his wife Geri (left) put on a public display of unity despite his alleged texting scandal
Horner kissed his wife in full view of the assembled cameras before leaving for the grid
Halliwell was on a flight to see her husband ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix when the messages were leaked.
She shared a kiss with Horner in full view of the cameras in a show of solidarity on race day.
The team principal was also seen stood next to his wife of nearly nine years as they watched the podium celebrations on Saturday.
Halliwell is holding ‘crisis talks’ over Horner’s alleged leaked text messages and did not want to meet her husband in Bahrain until she was talked into it by his family, sources claimed.
Though there has been a showcase of unity involving him and his wife, Horner is facing pressure from other directions.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem broke his silence on Friday, telling the Financial Times that the controversy that has been surrounding Horner is ‘damaging to the sport… this is damaging on a human level’.
Mail Sport previously reported that Ben Sulayem implored Horner’s star driver Verstappen to publicly back the Red Bull team principal in a chat after qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday.
The triple world champion, who took pole and went on to win the race in Bahrain, was seen in discussion with motor racing’s most senior figure in parc ferme. Both men hid what they said behind their hands.
But according to an observer standing close by, Ben Sulayem told Verstappen: ‘You must publicly back Christian.’
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem reportedly asked Max Verstappen to back Horner in public – though a source said the Dutchman wasn’t convinced by the advice
Another source said that Verstappen wasn’t entirely convinced by the advice. The Dutchman was equivocal when asked about Horner in the press conference afterwards.
After victory, Horner said: ‘I am not going to comment on the motives whatever person may have for doing this.’
Asked if he would be in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, for next weekend’s race and the whole season, he said: ‘Absolutely. I’ve always been confident I’ll be here.’
He added: ‘I’m not going to comment on what motives whatever person may have. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and going racing and winning races.’
When asked if he was confident he will remain in his position for the season, he said: ‘Absolutely 100 per cent.
‘There was a full lengthy internal process that was completed by an independent QC. The grievance that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on. I’ve always been entirely confident that I’ll be here.’