Christian Horner WILL lead Red Bull team at F1 winter testing despite ‘sexting’ and ‘inappropriate behaviour’

CHRISTIAN Horner is set to lead Red Bull into the first day of testing this week as they gear up for the 2024/25 Formula One season.

The 50-year-old is thought to be jetting off to Bahrain in the coming hours despite the bombshell allegations against him still hanging over his head.

AFP

Christian Horner is set to lead Red Bull into the first actual tests of the F1 season in Bahrain this week[/caption]

AFP

Horner has said he is approaching things like ‘business as usual’ as he and Red Bull gear up for the new F1 season[/caption]

Getty

Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell has made it clear she is standing by her man in light of the allegations[/caption]

Horner is fighting to save his F1 career following shock allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague and claims he sent “sexually suggestive” texts.

Even though Horner has categorically denied the claims, Red Bull are continuing to investigate them and have already put Horner through an eight hour grilling.

Horner is due to arrive in the Gulf kingdom this evening to watch his star driver Max Verstappen take to the wheel of the RB20 for the first time around an F1 track in the coming days.

The successful Red Bull team principal is also expected to attend a press conference at the testing event alongside other F1 bosses.

Horner, who has previously said everything is “business as usual” has already been present at secret Red Bull test runs and the RB20 launch event.

F1 released a statement on Sunday saying: “We hope that the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.

“We have noted Red Bull has instigated an independent investigation into internal allegations at Red Bull Racing.

“We will not comment further at this time.”

With Horner’s future reportedly still hanging in the balance it is unsure if he will be back in Bahrain for the F1 season opener on March 2.

Although it was recently announced that the final decision on Christian Horner‘s Red Bull probe could be set to come out this week.

Ford reportedly put pressure on their future partners at Red Bull Racing to investigate the outcome “seriously but quickly”.

Ford will be partners with Red Bull Racing from 2026 as the team’s engine supplier but sources say they could walk away from the deal in wake of the allegations and if things aren’t dealt with soon.

The Financial Times reported this week that a private letter from the US carmaker to the owner of the F1 team allegedly urged Red Bull to be fully open in its findings, according to two people around Ford.

And it is now believed that the decision around Horner’s future will be settled soon with The Times reporting that Red Bull have a desire to speed up the process and end the disruption around the team.

The media have focused on the allegations since they came out with Horner being quizzed by journalists at the recent Red Bull launch event over his alleged conduct.

The frenzy around Horner has been seen as a distraction at Red Bull as they look to retain their constructors title for 2024/25 and help World Champion Max Verstappen break even more records.

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It comes as…

• Ford urged Red Bull to be ‘transparent’ in Christian Horner
• More claims allege he ‘sent sexual messages to employee & offered payment to stop probe’
• Wife Geri Halliwell ‘terrified her life will unravel’
• Bernie Ecclestone gives Horner three key pieces of advice
• Moment Horner leads secret Red Bull F1 test
• Horner ‘urged to resign from Red Bull’
• Insiders claim Horner ‘not expected to survive’ probe
• Decision on his F1 future ‘could take months’

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Horner – who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – has said to be hoping the investigation is resolved within the next week.

He is said to be happy to cooperate with the investigation for as long as necessary, including answering more questions from an independent lawyer.

WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED?

Red Bull opened up a serious investigation into the shock allegations by a female employee but fresh claims allege Horner also sent her “sexually suggestive” texts.

Horner — who has denied all of the allegations so far — was originally only under investigation over alleged controlling behaviour at work.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, claimed to have seen ­messages at the heart of the probe and have alleged they were “sexually orientated”.

So far, neither Horner or the woman have been suspended and have continued to work among 1,500 staff at Red Bull Racing’s British HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Horner publicly addressed the allegations against him for the first time at the launch of the RB20 and categorically denied any wrongdoing.

His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.

The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source has claimed. 

But Geri, 51, is understood to be standing by her husband.

She has told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”

Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.

Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world ­constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.

Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.

Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List.

Reuters

Horner has denied all of the claims but the final results of the investigation still loom over his head[/caption]

Alamy Live News

Red Bill’s investigation into the claims are still ongoing[/caption]