HORNER ACCUSER SUSPENDED

SHANE LOWRY took a one-shot lead after the first round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational last night at the celebrated Bay Hill club in Orlando, Florida. The Offalyman took full advantage of a sponsor’s invitation with a scoring blitz on the back nine. He birdied the par-three second, but a stunning run of birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie after the turn propelled him up the leaderboard. He bogeyed the 14th to drop back to five under, but picked up another birdie on the 17th.

RED BULL yesterday suspended the female employee whose complaint triggered the scandal that has shaken Formula One.

The woman accused team principal Christian Horner of ‘coercive behaviour’ —a claim he was cleared of in an internal inquiry last Wednesday before WhatsApps of a supposedly suggestive nature were leaked the following day.

Mail Sport understands the decision to suspend her, on full pay, is a direct result of the findings of the investigation. She was told her evidence was ‘dishonest’.

It remains to be seen whether she appeals the inquiry’s decision. She has a five-day window to do so from the time the final legal letters confirming the findings of the investigation were served to both parties.

Horner later called for wife Geri and their three children to be left in peace. Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he said: ‘I am fortunate I have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife.

‘It has been very trying. The intrusion on my family is now enough and we need to move forward and focus on what we are here for, which is to go Formula One racing.’