Christian Horner and Red Bull may face disrepute charge as FIA consider investigation to gain more transparency

On Thursday night, Christian Horner and Red Bull were been plunged into a fresh crisis following a leak of secret evidence from the investigation that cleared him of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.

A cache of material made up predominantly of screengrabs from WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and his accuser, including images, was sent from an anonymous email address – febtwentyninth@gmail.com – to hundreds of journalists who have reported on the case at around 3pm GMT.

The motivation for the leak is unknown but the timing – on the eve of the first grand prix of the season, held in Bahrain – could not have been more dramatic.

A total of 79 screenshots were sent to a variety of outlets and inevitably began appearing on social media, firstly on Weibo, China’s equivalent to Facebook, and then more widely in the West on X, formerly Twitter.

Among those who received the email were members of the Formula One paddock, including FIA president Mohamed ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the grid’s nine other team principals.

It is believed the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and Formula One Management may be looking at the threat of a possible disrepute charge to get Red Bull to provide more transparency.

Horner, the beleaguered Red Bull team principal, was back in the Formula One paddock yesterday before qualifying for today’s season-opening race. As the matter is an internal disciplinary procedure, neither he nor the team have been willing to make any comment regarding any aspect of the evidence.

But following intense pressure from rival teams for more “transparency”, and with scores of messages allegedly showing exchanges between Horner and a female colleague now having leaked into the public domain, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali are aware of the need to try to assert some leadership.

Both were on the extensive list of F1 personnel, team principals and media who were sent the messages by anonymous email.

With their respective legal teams having looked at the messages, it is understood both bodies would like to see the full report compiled for Red Bull by its independent specialist barrister.

It seems doubtful that Red Bull will share that. In its statement clearing Horner on Wednesday, Red Bull GmbH said it was satisfied that its process had been “fair, rigorous and impartial”.

But it insisted that it would not share the report, which is understood to run to hundreds of pages, as it was “confidential and contained the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation”.

It is understood that neither F1’s American owners, Liberty Media, nor its regulator, the FIA, has seen Red Bull GmbH’s report into Horner, which is thought to stretch to 150 pages and was said to be “confidential”.

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One possible regulatory lever the FIA has is to launch its own investigation using the threat of a disrepute charge. It could try to force Red Bull to hand over the report – under strict confidentiality – to satisfy itself that all is above board.

Article 12.2.1.c of the International Sporting Code states competitors will be deemed to have committed an offence for: “Any fraudulent conduct or any act prejudicial to the interests of any Competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.”

If Red Bull refuse to co-operate, the FIA could cite Article 12.2.1.g which states that “any failure to co-operate in an investigation” will be deemed to be an offence.

Horner’s wife, Geri, is believed to have arrived in Bahrain ahead of the opening race of the season, in an apparent show of solidarity for her husband.

It is understood Geri, formerly Halliwell, arrived on Thursday night as the fallout from the leaks unfolded.

Some reports had suggested that Geri was humiliated after the messages were sent to hundreds of journalists and F1 officials. Others insisted she was sticking with her man.

Yesterday, sources had strongly hinted that Geri – who was also known as Ginger Spice from her time in the Spice Girls – would show her face in Bahrain.

“Watch this space,” said the insider when asked if she would be going.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Horner gave short shrift to reporters in Bahrain. “[I’m] not going to comment on anonymous speculation from unknown sources,” he said. Asked what would happen next, Horner replied: “We go racing.”

Tabloid newspapers suggested Geri, 51, had been left “extremely humiliated” by the leak of the messages.

She and Horner have been married for almost a decade and have one child together.