Horner Whatsapp messages ‘leaked’
F1 chief in spotlight again
THE future of F1 team boss Christian Horner was again in doubt last night after messages apparently from him were leaked to the media.
The texts and photos allegedly showed private conversations between Red Bull boss Horner and an unknown member of staff, apparently a woman.
They came just 24 hours after 50-yearold Horner – the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Horner – was cleared by Red Bull’s own probe.
It had looked at allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour made against him.
The Whatsapp messages, which also mention Geri, were sent from an anony
Horner at work mous email address to hundreds of journalists. There are no explicit images among the Whatsapp messages, which the Mirror has seen, but some of the texts are sexually suggestive.
Horner said in a statement last night: “I will not comment on anonymous speculation. But to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.”
He said of the Red Bull probe: “I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way. It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the complaint made.”
A company spokesman had said: “Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.”
But the racing team provided no details of the allegations, or how its investigation was carried out.
Allegations against Horner first emerged publicly on February 5. Red
Bull’s own investigation lasted eight weeks, and its verdict clearing the team principal and chief executive was made public early in February.
Horner, who has led Red Bull Racing since its formation in 2005, appeared relaxed when approached in Bahrain about the opening Grand Prix of the season, saying he was “looking forward” to the races ahead. Teams are in Bahrain ahead of tomorrow’s grand prix.
Red Bull’s three-time world champion driver Max Verstappen said in the West Asian country that he was “trusting the process of the investigation”.