Christian Horner insists he has wife Geri's full support as Red Bull chief speaks for first time since 'inappropriate behaviour' allegations… and vows to still be in charge of F1 show

A bruised but unbowed Christian Horner insisted on Thursday that he has the full support of former Spice Girl wife Geri, following allegations of 'controlling behaviour' by a female colleague.

He also stated that he will still be Red Bull team boss when the Formula 1 season starts in Bahrain on March 2.

The 50-year-old Englishman is among the most successful figures in the sport's history and held a series of media interviews at the team's car launch in Milton Keynes amid the biggest crisis of his career. He categorically denies the claims.

For the first time since the story broke last week, he talked about “business as usual.” That is of course not entirely true. This controversy overshadows preparations for Red Bull's upcoming title defense. Still, whatever else happened, Horner showed courage in sticking to his planned media engagements (although what would it have looked like if he had shirked his duties?).

To be honest, Horner was a bit ashen, and not his usual funny self. Normally on launch days like this he would have made a few jokes. Maybe he commented on someone's shoes or made a playful cut to the ribs. But even though he didn't joke at all during his lunch dates, he refused to be written off.

Ahead of the tests in Bahrain next week, ahead of the first race in the Gulf kingdom, he said: 'I have a very supportive family and a very supportive wife.

'My focus was on the track and the coming season.'

When asked if he would be in Bahrain, he replied: “Yes.”

There is no timetable for the completion of the investigation into his alleged conduct; a process is being conducted by an external lawyer, an English QC, whose name has not been disclosed. Horner argued his defense against him for eight hours last Friday.

Thanks to Red Bull, they kept their launch personal. Ferrari, on the other hand, put theirs on Zoom. They also failed to make a virtue of the exciting news that they have signed Lewis Hamilton for 2025.

Questions were censored and deflected. Signing the seven-time world champion was reason to shout from the rooftops. And Mercedes, even worse, performed a bloodless virtual launch that lasted nine minutes.

Although Horner showed up, the back and forth of evidence between prosecutor and defendant means he is advised not to discuss the intricacies of it all for now.

However, he said: 'There is a day's work that we have to work on. I feel the support within the company and our partners, and within the sector. It's overwhelming.

'There is currently a process underway. There have been some allegations made, which I completely deny, and I have fully complied with that process and will continue to do so until it is resolved.

“Moments of uncertainty bring us together and I have never seen a team more together and supportive than it is.

“Everyone is focused on one thing, which is the performance of that car to go out and defend both world titles that we have worked so hard for over the years.

“So everyone has invested in the car and I'm looking forward to seeing it in action in Bahrain next week.

“I am absolutely committed to this team. I've been here since the beginning. I built this team. There have been highs and lows along the way.

'We won 113 races. Won seven world drivers' championships. We have won six Constructors' World Championships. All in 19 seasons and that is in the history books.

“But it's what lies ahead that is important. So my focus is on the future. The intention is for Red Bull's powertrains to become a start-up engine company. We have an advanced technological business system that produces the first ever Red Bull track car. There's a lot going on on campus.

“I've been back to back in the office doing my work.”

Several key Red Bull figures were present in Milton Keynes – which employs 1,500 staff – for the launch, including those from the energy drinks company's headquarters in Salzburg, including director Oliver Mintzlaff, former CEO of football club RB Leipzig.

He and Horner spoke for a few moments. Mintzlaff also spoke briefly to Max Verstappen, Horner's star driver, who said relations with his team boss were 'as normal'.

There is some sense in suggesting that there is a move in Salzburg to clip Horner's wings, a plot that pits the Austrian contingent against Chalerm Yoovidhya, the Thai billionaire heir to the company (who was not in Milton on Thursday Keynes was, but probably a Horner financier).

Whatever the Horner investigation will reveal, Formula 1 has a penchant for vilification, making scheming Tory backbenchers look like Anchorite monks. But for now, Horner refuses to be deposed.