Christian Horner is mocked on Mumsnet for ‘humiliating’ messages ‘sent by F1 boss to a female employee’ after they were leaked on social media

By Tamara Prenn

Christian Horner may be breaching an obscure clause in Formula 1’s International Sporting Code after a series of inappropriate texts and photos appearing to be between the Red Bull team boss and a female employee were circulated anonymously on Thursday afternoon.

The FIA International Sporting Code contains a subsection of an article that refers to the moral responsibility that competitors have towards the organization, and explains that breaking their rules is ‘a punishable offence, whether (…) committed intentionally or negligently’.

Article 12.2.1f states that a competitor may be found in breach of the code for: ‘Any words, acts or writings which have caused moral damage or loss to the FIA, its bodies, its members or its executive officers, and more in the generally about the interests of motorsport and about the values ​​defended by the FIA’.

Should the FIA ​​want to launch its own investigation into the alleged texts and photos, the way Horner and Red Bull are leading the investigation, or the impact the media storm could have on the way the sport is viewed , whether the email brought F1 into disrepute could be investigated, with possible sanctions imposed.

Some of Horner’s colleagues were initially unhappy with the team’s parent company’s statement in clearing the team’s head on Wednesday, which insisted their KC-led investigation was “confidential.”

Neither the sport’s owners, Liberty Media, nor the FIA ​​have seen the 150-page report, and Mercedes’ team boss was among the first to call for more transparency about the investigation.

Horner and Geri Halliwell at the Larkhill Royal Artillary Point to Point

It is ‘highly unlikely’ that Halliwell will fly to Bahrain to join her husband. In the photo: their wedding day in 2015

‘I believe that as we strive to be a global sport, on such crucial topics, there needs to be more transparency and I wonder what the position of the sport is?’ Wolff told reporters.

“We are competitors, we are a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not. But it’s more of a general reaction or action that we as a sport have to judge, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.

‘Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values ​​based on the speculations that are out there?’

McLaren CEO Zak Brown reiterated his comments as he pleaded with the sport’s owners and organizers to “ensure that all racing teams and staff, drivers and everyone else involved in the sport operate in a way that we all live by.” ‘

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem was among the recipients of the anonymous email

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was among the voices in the sport calling for more transparency about the investigation

In the wake of the circulating email, Horner insisted his “entire focus” was on the upcoming race weekend.

“I will not comment on anonymous speculation,” Horner said, “but I repeat: I have always denied the allegations.

“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully with it every step of the way.

‘It was a thorough and fair investigation, carried out by an independent specialist lawyer, and it led to the dismissal of the complaint submitted.

‘I remain fully focused on the start of the season.’

A spokesperson for Red Bull GmbH called the development a “private matter” in a short statement.

“It is a private matter between Mr Horner and it would be inappropriate for Red Bull to comment on this,” their message read.