Messages leaked hours after F1 boss Christian Horner cleared in workplace misconduct probe
Hundreds of text messages and photos between Formula 1’s Red Bull Racing principal Christian Horner and a female employee were reportedly leaked shortly after he was cleared in a workplace misconduct probe.
Horner, 50, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was accused of “coercive behavior” toward a female subordinate earlier this month, and was subsequently cleared in an investigation by Red Bull’s parent company.
One day after Horner was cleared, 79 screenshots that contained hundreds of WhatsApp text and photo messages between Horner and a female employee were emailed anonymously to a cadre of leaders in and around F1, including chief executive Stefano Domenicali and FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem, according to the Daily Mail.
Every other F1 team’s principal was copied, as was the father of star Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, the report said.
In all, nearly 200 people were copied on the email, the AP reported.
“I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations,” Horner said in a statement that a Red Bull team spokesperson read to reporters.
“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way,” Horner’s statement continued.
“It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister and it has concluded, dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.”
In a separate statement, Red Bull confirmed that Horner had been cleared by an “independent investigation” and that the complainant has a right to appeal.
Specific details of what Horner was accused of have not been revealed.
Horner has been Red Bull Racing’s principal since the team entered F1 on a full-time basis in 2005.
Here's everything we know about Christian Horner's sexting scandal
Christian Horner, the team principal of the Red Bull F1 team, is being accused of “inappropriate, controlling behavior” following leaked allegedly salacious messages between him and a female employee.
Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Gerri Halliwell, allegedly commented to the female employee that it would be good for her to stretch her legs in response to her stating it would be good for him to do so after a long flight, according to reports.
The leak, which was sent to nearly 200 people in a Google document, included nearly 80 images of screenshots with messages to the woman, including: “I keep thinking about Spanx” and “What’s underneath at the moment?”
Horner also allegedly asked the woman for selfies of her in pajamas, and one message referenced what the Daily Mail described as a “solo sex act.”
The employee reportedly asked Horner to stop and attempted to turn the tables by asking him how he would feel if his wife was doing the same thing with an employee, according to reports.
Red Bull Racing cleared Horner of any violations of misconduct following an internal probe.
“I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations,” Horner said Thursday in a statement.
Verstappen, the star driver, has won the world championship the last three consecutive years.
Even before the email leak, Zak Brown, the principal of the rival McLaren team, called on F1 and the FIA to look into Red Bull’s investigation.
“From what I’ve seen, there continues to be a lot of rumors and speculation, questions,” Brown said.
“I think the sanctioning body has a responsibility and authority to our sport, to our fans. All of us in Formula 1 are ambassadors for the sport on and off the track, like you see in other sports. And so I think they need to make sure that things have been fully transparent with them.”
Earlier this month, The Sun reported that Halliwell, Horner’s wife, was profoundly emotional over the allegations.
“Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids,” a Halliwell confidante told the outlet.
“She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
