Christian Horner grilled for eight hours about allegations of 'controlling behavior'

FORMULA One team boss Christian Horner was under fire for eight hours today for alleged “controlling” behavior.

The Red Bull Racing chief – married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – was questioned by a lawyer at a private location late in the afternoon.

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The 50-year-old looked rather grim as he was brought into the crunch meeting.

An F1 source said: “Christian has been there and had his conversation for hours. We hope for a quick solution, but that may be unlikely.”

The source continued: “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.

“But Christian has not been fired or asked to resign, and he will not resign.

“We are conducting an investigation and we must respect the integrity of the investigation, which means we must let it take its course.”

The Sun told on Tuesday how Horner was being investigated over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female colleague.

He was seen when a chauffeured car picked him up from his home in north London at 7.15am.

Unshaven Horner tried to force a smile after climbing into the back of the BMW with a suitcase.

Red Bull engaged independent lawyers in response to the complaint.

The meeting is said to have taken place in London and not near the racing team's base in Milton Keynes or Red Bull's headquarters in Salzburg, Austria.

Horner was questioned late this afternoon after the meeting got off to an early start.

Horner, who heads the all-conquering F1 team of world champion Max Verstappen – arch-rival of British favorite Sir Lewis Hamilton – has denied the claims of controlling behaviour.

The allegations are said to center on concerns about a strict work regime and do not relate to sexual impropriety.

Horner, who has been Red Bull Racing's 'director' since its founding in 2005, was questioned by an external lawyer hired by the Austrian company.

Red Bull said it had begun an investigation after being made aware of the complaint, which was believed to have been filed in Austria.

Today BBC Sport reported that insiders had told them they did not expect Horner to survive the furor.

Staff at the team's British base in Milton Keynes have said they had no knowledge of the allegations when contacted.

I completely deny these claims

Christian Hoorner

The investigation threatens to overshadow the start of the new F1 season – with the first practice sessions for the Bahrain Grand Prix taking place on February 29.

However, insiders say it is unlikely that a decision on Horner's future at the helm of the team will be made after today's first meeting with the lawyer.

Our source added: “People expect this to be over before the start of the F1 season, but that's just not going to happen.

“It will be a longer process because we have to conduct the investigation thoroughly.”

Horner has reportedly called the allegations “crazy” and said publicly: “I completely deny these claims.”

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Wife Geri, 51, is believed to stand by her husband and has told friends: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”

Former racing driver Horner and Geri married in a church ceremony in Woburn, Beds, in 2015 after a year-long engagement.

They have a seven-year-old son together and Horner has a daughter from a previous relationship.

Red Bull Racing has won seven Formula 1 Drivers' World Championships and six Constructors' World Championships since the team was founded under Horner 19 years ago.

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.

Christian has done nothing wrong

Geri Horner

Red Bull Racing declined to comment today.

In a statement earlier this week, the company said it was investigating “certain recent allegations.”

A spokesperson added: “This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist lawyer.”

Horner remains one of the most influential figures within Red Bull and Formula 1.

If given the chance, insiders expect him to be replaced by a director from Red Bull's Austrian side.

A likely favorite would be German businessman Oliver Mintzlaff, former head of football club RB Leipzig.

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