Appeal dismissed over Christian Horner 'inappropriate behaviour' allegations

F1

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against Christian Horner have been dismissed after an appeal. Will the controversy stop there? Here's the background and what we know

Christian Horner Red Bull 2024

Could Christian Horner's Red Bull tenure come to a scandalous end?

Red Bull

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Christian Horner: From aspiring F1 driver to Red Bull team principal
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Christian Horner: From aspiring F1 driver to Red Bull team principal

Christian Horner hoped he would end up racing in Formula 1; fell into the team manager role; and has become one of the most successful bosses in the series history. Here's his story, from early days of racing in Formula Renault to managing Red Bull to multiple F1 title triumphs

By Motor Sport

News of the allegations emerged in early February when an investigation, carried out by a barrister, was underway. It overshadowed pre-season testing where Horner — who had already been interviewed — remained in his role at the head of the team.

The fallout continued in the run-up to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Horner meeting Verstappen’s manager, following meetings with both FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali over the Bahrain GP weekend to discuss the matter.

Other team managers have also called for more information, given the efforts being made by F1 and teams to make the paddock less hostile to female staff. “As a sport, we can’t afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “It’s going to catch us out.”

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said that the matter should be investigated by the FIA. “The sanctioning body has a responsibility and authority to our sport and fans,” he said. “They need to make sure that things have been fully transparent with them, that they come to the same conclusion that has been given by Red Bull and they they agree with the outcome. Until then, there will continue to be speculation because there are a lot of unanswered questions about the whole process.”

Christian and Geri Horner in 2024 f1 Bahrain Grand Prix paddock surrounded by photographers

Geri Horner appearing with husband Christian in a show of solidarity before Bahrain race

Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto Via Getty

Horner, who has led the team from its inception in 2005, since when it has won six constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles, put on a display of solidarity in Bahrain, marching through the paddock with his wife, Geri Halliwell, but the tension was far from behind the scenes, as a video of emerged of him apparently arguing with Jos Verstappen.

At the next race weekend in Saudi Arabia, more controversy ensured when it emerged that Helmut Marko may be under investigation in relation to the leaked WhatsApp messages.

He then appeared to confirm this in an interview. “I’ll put it this way, it’s difficult to judge, or let’s put it this way, ultimately, I’ll decide for myself what I do,” he said. “The theoretical possibility [of being suspended] always exists.”

Tensions heightened when Max Verstappen was questioned on the Marko situation. “If such an important pillar falls away, that’s not good for my situation as well,” said the Dutchman.

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against Christian Horner by a female colleague have been dismissed for a second time.

The Red Bull team principal was cleared by an independent lawyer in February, after the claims were made at the end of last year. As well as threatening his future, they also appeared to destabilise the core of the team, including three-time world champions Max Verstappen and influential Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko.

They remained hanging over Horner when his accuser appealed his decision. A second investigation, carried out by a separate lawyer has now recommended that the appeal be dismissed.

The accuser was suspended from the team earlier in the year and her current situation is unknown.

“All stages of the appeal process have now been concluded, with the final outcome that the appeal is not upheld,” said Red Bull in a statement.

“The KC’s conclusions have been accepted and adopted by Red Bull. Red Bull is committed to continuing to meet the highest workplace standards.”

This decision marks the end of the long-running probe, which began when a complaint was lodged last December. During that period, messages purportedly sent between the accuser and Horner have been leaked, and there has been a public rift at Red Bull.

For a period, key figures appeared to be at threat with, with Marko, the head of Red Bull’s driver programme, at one point stating he might be suspended. He was backed by star driver Max Verstappen, who pledged his loyalty to him. If Marko went, the three-time world champion has said he would too.

Then came a direct challenge to his authority came from Max’s father Jos, who called for Horner to go in March, shortly after being cleared in the first probe. “There is tension here while he remains in position,” Jos Verstappen told The Daily Mail, minutes after the end of the Bahrain Grand Prix. “The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

Jos Verstappen Red Bull 2024 Bahrain GP

Jos Verstappen had his say on the situation

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It followed a race weekend dominated by news of Horner, fuelled by a cache of files apparently containing personal messages exchanged between him and the complainant, which were emailed to officials, team bosses and journalists. The contents were not been verified, but intensified calls for Red Bull to release more details about the investigation into Horner’s conduct.

Horner refused to comment “on anonymous, speculative messages from an unknown source,” and leant on the findings of  Red Bull’s investigation. “There was a full internal process that was completed by an independent KC,” he said. “And the grievance that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on.”

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“My loyalty to [Marko] is very big. I’ve always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he’s an important part in my decision-making for all the time in the future as well within the team.”

“It was very impressive. I am very grateful to him for that,” said Marko in response. “But he is one of the few who has strength of character and shows loyalty.”

Red Bull’s Austrian CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, had to weigh in to defuse the situation, which brought relative calm to the team — at least until Adrian Newey announced in May that he would be leaving the team, followed not long after by sporting director Jonathan Wheatley.

It’s not known whether either departure is linked to the unsettled situation earlier this year, which was thought to have been exacerbated by division between the Austrian and Thai sides of Red Bull, with many believing that it illustrates a wider battle for supremacy in the energy drinks company, following the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

Red Bull GmbH in Austria was rumoured to want Horner out, while the Thai side has displayed its full support for the man who has been team principal for the entirety of the squad’s existence.

Max Verstappen Helmut Marko Red Bull 2024 Bahrain GP

Verstappen has stated his loyalty to Marko

Red Bull

 


What was Christian Horner accused of?

Horner 2

Horner will face an internal hearing for ‘inappropriate behaviour’

Red Bull

Red Bull never confirmed the accusations made against its team boss, but Motor Sport understands, from various sources, that the claims related to allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour.

The complainant is a team employee, hence Red Bull’s decision to look into the matter, with the investigation led by an external lawyer.

Horner denied the allegations in full since they first became public on February 5 2024 after a report emerged in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. He was interviewed four days later by the external lawyer heading the investigation.

 

What is controlling behaviour?

According to the Home Office’s official statutory guidance framework, controlling or coercive behaviour is a “intentional pattern of conduct” in which perpetrators will “use various means to hurt, humiliate, intimidate, exploit, isolate and dominate their victims.”

There are many different behaviours which fall under this conduct, including: physical and sexual violence/abuse, violent behaviour, emotional or psychological abuse, controlling behaviours, restrictive behaviours and threatening behaviours.

 

Could Christian Horner have been fired?

Christian Horner Red Bull 2024

Could Horner be forced from his post as team principal of Red Bull Racing?

Red Bull

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour can include serious wrongdoing, which would usually result in dismissal if proven. However, the full details of this case are not known and the conclusion of the investigation cleared Horner of all accusations.

 

What has changed at Red Bull?

Red Bull Adrian Newey Christian Horner

While personal friendships with Adrian Newey, Helmut Marko and Jos Verstappen (father of Max) were said to be under strain following news of the investigation, Horner has long been reported to be involved in a “power struggle” in wider Red Bull company, which has been  simmering since the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

Instead of a single figurehead, the company is currently controlled by a board of directors including Franz Watzlawick (CEO), Alexander Kirchmayr (CFO) and Oliver Mintzlaff. The latter, who heads Red Bull’s corporate projects and investments department, is rumoured to be Horner’s greatest opposer.

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However, Horner is said to have the support of the Thais on the main board, composed of Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, sons of the Red Bull’s co-founders Chaleo and Dietrich.

Within the team, there is understood to be a division that includes Helmut Marko and the Verstappen family allied against Horner, although this has been denied by Horner.

Just before the results of the initial investigation were made public, Max spoke of the “importance” of his team principal and the effect should he leave the team, but stopped short of backing him entirely.

“I think he’s very important [to the team],” said the Dutchman in a pre-Bahrain GP press conference. “But let’s say if your team boss disappears for whatever reason for one or two races, not much is going to happen because everyone is in their role, and they know what they have to do in the short term. Over time, then of course things will start to be different. But we are not thinking like that.

“Like I said before, we just trust the process that we are in as a team to see what the outcome will be. Besides that, everyone is just very focused on the performance here at the track.”