Horner's wait for it to be over, while Red Bull tries to make a decision 'this week'
THE final decision on Christian Horner's Red Bull investigation could emerge as early as next week.
Ford has put pressure on their prospective partners at Red Bull Racing to investigate the outcome “seriously but quickly”, meaning Horner could find out his fate much sooner than originally expected, reports say.
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Ford will become a partner of Red Bull Racing as the team's engine supplier from 2026 Sources say they could walk away from the deal after the accusations and if something is not done quickly.
The Financial times reported this week that a private letter from the American carmaker to the owner of the F1 team may have urged Red Bull to be fully open in its findings, according to two people close to Ford.
They maintain that Ford did not exert any pressure to achieve a particular outcome, but did emphasize that they expect the investigation to be conducted seriously but quickly.
But it is now believed that the decision on Horner's future will be decided soon The times report that Red Bull has the desire to accelerate the process and put an end to the disruption surrounding the team.
This means that the outcome could be announced as early as “this week”.
The media has focused on the allegations since they emerged when Horner was questioned by journalists about his alleged behavior at the recent Red Bull launch event.
The media frenzy surrounding Horner is seen as a distraction at Red Bull as they look to retain their 2024/2025 constructors' title and help world champion Max Verstappen break even more records.
Horner – who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – has said he hopes the investigation will be resolved within next week – when the team flies to Bahrain for pre-season testing.
He would like to cooperate with the investigation for as long as necessary, including answering more questions from an independent lawyer, which could mean a long caper.
Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Motorsport, issued a statement on Friday to the Associated Press says: “As a family-owned business and a company that adheres to very high standards of conduct and integrity, we expect the same from our partners.
“It seems that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course they are also concerned about their brand.
“And that's why they have an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of that, it's too early for us to comment on it.”
Red Bull opened a serious investigation into a female employee's shocking allegations, but new claims claim Horner also sent her 'sexually suggestive' text messages.
Horner – who has so far denied all allegations – was initially only under investigation for alleged controlling behavior at work.
Dutch newspaper De Telegraafclaimed to have seen messages at the heart of the investigation and claimed they were “sexually oriented.”
So far, neither Horner nor the woman have been suspended and they continue to work among the 1,500 staff at Red Bull Racing's British headquarters in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
Horner publicly addressed the allegations against him for the first time at the launch of the RB20 this week.
He said: “Inevitably there have been distractions but the team is very much together.
“Everyone is focused on the season ahead, so it was very normal and the support was fantastic.
“In situations like this you see where the strengths lie, and the support I have had from the team has been overwhelming.
“There have been some allegations made, which I completely deny, so the background investigation is ongoing as we prepare for the upcoming season, and will hopefully be completed in the near future.”
Many believed that the investigation would drag on for weeks as Red Bull would conduct a thorough investigation.
One source even claimed that the investigation is far from over and could potentially herald the new F1 season on March 2.
The insider said: “This is not a process and we will not have an answer and an outcome at the end of the day.
“This is not something that will be resolved so quickly.
“People expect this to be over before the start of the F1 season, but that's just not going to happen.”
It comes when…
WHAT IS CLAIMED?
F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that the sport's longest-serving team boss had been put under investigation by Red Bull's Austrian-based parent company.
This was thought to be about a 'file containing incriminating material' about 'inappropriate and controlling behaviour' towards a woman, The Telegraph reported.
Red Bull's Austrian parent company sent an independent lawyer to Britain to question the multimillionaire and his accuser.
The former racing driver, who leads world champion Max Verstappen's all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims last week.
However, more allegations have recently emerged The Telegraph reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to his employee “over an extended period of time.”
Messages were allegedly saved and presented as evidence to the outside lawyer who led the investigation after the woman filed a complaint last December.
De Telegraaf also claimed that Horner's lawyers tried to settle the case with a payment – and that Red Bull's senior management were aware of his offer.
Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and would take legal action against De Telegraaf.
An F1 source told The Sun last week that “Christian has not been fired or asked to resign and he has no intention of resigning.”
The investigation raises the question of who could take over the helm of world champion Max Verstappen's all-conquering racing team.
His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified that her life will unravel” amid Horner's investigation into “inappropriate behaviour”.
The ex-Spice Girl, who “burst into tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source claims.
But Geri, 51, is believed to have her husband's back.
She has told friends: “Christian did nothing wrong.”
Horner has had an enormous period of success for the racing team: he won several F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Red Bull has won seven Formula 1 Drivers' World Championships and six Constructors' World Championships under Horner's leadership.
Last season the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, with 26-year-old Verstappen winning the drivers' crown.
Horner received a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year's Honors List.
The life and career of Christian Horner
CHRISTIAN Horner is one of the best-known names in Formula 1 and has helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in kart racing
1993-1997 – Participates in numerous competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two and Formula 3000
1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
1999 – Retires from driving and continues development of the Arden team
2005 – Appointed head of the Red Bull team, becoming the youngest team boss ever at the time
2009 – Wins his first races as team boss with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
2010 – Wins the Constructors' Championship and Drivers' Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen, shortly before the couple split
2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
2021 – Wins another Drivers' Championship with Max Verstappen, leaving Lewis Hamilton behind in the final round of the season
2022-2023 – Red Bull wins the Drivers' Championship and the Constructors' Championship two years in a row
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