F1 BOSS Christian Horner has been cleared of sending improper messages to a feminine worker – however the saga may very well be removed from over.
The Pink Bull workforce principal should now try to rebuild his crisis-hit workforce after a tumultuous three weeks spent preventing for his profession.
10
10
Horner, 50, was revealed on February 5 to be the topic of a proper grievance by a feminine colleague alleging controlling and coercive behaviour, with the probe later mentioned to contain him allegedly sending improper messages to a girl.
He vehemently denied the bombshell claims.
Following a gruelling three-week inner investigation, he was yesterday cleared of any wrongdoing and it was confirmed he would hold his £8million-a-year job.
A supply advised The Solar final night time: “Christian’s profession, his marriage and his status had been attacked however there are actually no query marks over his character.
Learn extra on Christian Horner
“There isn’t a shadow. However questions are being requested about how this occurred, why it occurred, and who was accountable.”
The previous racing driver returned to the trackside for the primary time as we speak – all smiles and with a giant activity forward of him.
He should now restore the injury and supply assurances that his relationship with Pink Bull world champ Max Verstappen, 26, stays sturdy sufficient to ship a fourth consecutive drivers’ title.
Some insiders consider Horner and Verstappen’s relationship is sufficiently wholesome, The Occasions stories, regardless of the younger driver selecting to not publicly assist his boss yesterday.
When requested throughout a press convention if he was utterly behind Horner, Verstappen mentioned: “Nicely, I’m trusting the method, that’s what’s occurring proper now. I don’t wish to get into that.
“As a result of it’s not my case anyway and I don’t wish to be concerned. However as a workforce, yeah, we do belief that course of and we simply should be affected person, as a result of there’s no want to start out saying issues, begin screaming issues out loud. You must be affected person.”
Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former racing driver, is reportedly a good friend of the feminine complainant, who labored at Pink Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes as just lately as Monday.
Horner flew to Bahrain yesterday – accompanied by a senior adviser to the workforce, Helmut Marko – forward of the F1 season’s opening race on Saturday, the place Verstappen is hoped to guide the workforce to glory.
The Pink Bull boss advised Sky Sports activities in Bahrain this morning: “I’m simply happy that the method is over.
“I’m right here very a lot now to deal with the season forward and attempting to defend each of our titles.
He added that unity within the workforce “has by no means been stronger”.
There may be confidence within the Pink Bull camp that Horner’s place is safe, even when the feminine complainant appeals the choice – which she has the proper to do.
A spokesman for Pink Bull GmbH mentioned: “The unbiased investigation into the allegations made towards Mr Horner is full and Pink Bull can verify that the grievance has been dismissed.
“Pink Bull is assured the investigation has been honest, rigorous and neutral. The investigation report is confidential and accommodates the personal data of the events and third events who assisted within the investigation, and subsequently we won’t be commenting additional out of respect for all involved.”
10
10
10
The report by the King’s Counsel, inside which the grievance was dismissed, is known be about 150 pages and was primarily based on 60 hours of interviews with Horner and different workers members.
Horner himself endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
Spice Lady Geri Halliwell, 51, was mentioned to be “relieved and elated” final night time when her F1 boss husband was cleared of wrongdoing.
She had stood solidly by Horner, who she married in 2015, from the second the claims towards him had been made public.
A supply mentioned: “This has been weeks of hell for Christian and his household.
“As he has mentioned all alongside, these claims are ‘nuts’.
“An exhaustive investigation has been carried out and the allegations have confirmed to be nonsense.
“Geri has been rock stable behind Christian – and his complete household is relieved and elated that it’s over. These emotions are there however nobody near Christian appears like celebrating a lot after what he’s been via.
“In the intervening time his focus is again totally on profitable races.”
The previous popstar was reportedly left “in floods of tears” when the scandal broke earlier this month and was supported by friends together with her fellow Spice Women.
I’m simply happy that the method is over. I’m right here very a lot now to deal with the season forward and attempting to defend each of our titles
Christian Horner
She could be part of her husband in Bahrain this weekend.
What lies forward for Horner’s profession stays unclear, with some reportedly displeased by a scarcity of transparency within the investigation and others relieved to listen to he was exonerated.
The workforce principal’s place has been extra precarious since his ally and Pink Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz died in October 2022.
Horner has reportedly managed to retain assist from Chalerm Yoovidhya, who controls 51 per cent of Pink Bull and is the eldest son of Chaleo, the Thai businessman who co-created Pink Bull in 1984.
However not everybody feels warmly towards him and there have been talks, instigated by Pink Bull Austria, of a potential reshuffle within the future.
The potential of such was dismissed – a minimum of within the brief time period – by sources final night time who insisted Horner would stay each workforce principal and chief govt of the all-conquering F1 workforce.
10
10
10
10
10
What was claimed?
F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden information that the game’s longest-standing workforce principal had been positioned underneath investigation by Pink Bull’s Austria-based father or mother firm.
This was considered over a “file of incriminating materials” relating to “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” in the direction of one feminine, The Telegraph reported.
Pink Bull’s Austrian father or mother firm flew an unbiased lawyer to the UK to query the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
The previous racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Pink Bull workforce, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
Most just lately, nevertheless, extra allegations got here because the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly despatched improper messages to his worker “over an prolonged time frame”.
Messages had been claimed to have been saved and offered as proof to the exterior barrister working the inquiry after the girl made a grievance final December.
Mr Horner categorically denied the brand new allegations and is considered taking authorized motion towards De Telegraaf.
The investigation raised the query of who might take over the helm of the all-conquering racing workforce of world champion Max Verstappen.
His spouse Geri Halliwell was additionally mentioned to be “terrified her life would unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
The ex-Spice Lady, who was “in floods of tears” when the Pink Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, feared the drama will drag on for years, a supply claimed.
However Geri, 51, stood by her husband.
She advised friends: “Christian has achieved nothing incorrect.”
Horner has overseen a big interval of success for the racing workforce – profitable a number of F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Pink Bull has received seven Components One world drivers’ championships and 6 world constructors’ titles underneath Horner’s management.
Final season, the workforce received 21 of the 22 races on the worldwide F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, received the drivers’ crown.
Horner was awarded a CBE for companies to motorsport within the 2024 New Yr’s Honours Checklist.
