Red Bull Desperate to Settle Horner Matter This Week?
Feb.19 - Christian Horner's struggle to rescue his embattled Formula 1 career appears only to have worsened.
Red Bull's 2026 engine partner Ford, and the Formula 1 organisation itself, have now broken their silence on the scandal that is being investigated internally behind the scenes at the energy drink company.
It emerges that De Telegraaf, a Dutch newspaper that played a leading role in exposing the Horner scandal, is being sued by Red Bull team boss Horner for suggesting that the disputed interactions between him and a female staff member were in fact of a sexual nature.
The newspaper said sex-related messages were sent to the staff member "over an extended period of time", and when Horner learned that she was complaining to his paymasters at Red Bull GmbH, he offered to pay her off to the tune of some 650,000 British pounds.
London's Times newspaper thinks Red Bull is now desperate to settle the matter this week, as pre-season testing gets underway in Bahrain.
It is also believed that the independent lawyer investigating the matter, and his since gone on holiday, was in fact appointed not by Red Bull's Austrian arm but the company's Thai shareholders - who support Horner.
Critically, though, Dr Helmut Marko and the Verstappen camp reportedly do not support Horner - and the support of Formula 1 itself as well as 2026 engine partner Ford also appears to be crumbling.
"We hope that the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process," a statement issued by Liberty Media-owned F1 said.
"We will not comment further at this time."
The Financial Times, meanwhile, says Ford sent a private letter to Red Bull Racing's owners over the scandal, while the US carmaker giant's motorsport boss Mark Rushbrook has gone public.
"As a family company, and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behaviour and integrity, we do expect the same from our partners," he said in a statement to the AP news agency.
"It appears to us, and what we've been told, was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course, they're worried about their brand, as well," Ford's Rushbrook added.
It is not known to what extent Ford's public position was influenced by the emergence of new reports suggesting that messages, emails and photos between Horner and the staff member do in fact exist.
Auto Bild in Germany claims the female staff member is now on sick leave, and is also planning to take legal action against Horner in the UK.
"If Horner has to leave his post as team leader, it will not be good for Red Bull Racing," commented former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella.
"Christian is a good person and has been leading this team for many years. They won so many races and championships together and he deserves a lot of credit for that," he added.
"If he leaves, it will have a negative impact on the team and could affect the balance of power in the championship."
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For Red Bull, Max , Horner ,f1 and the fans there is no win this is lose lose. Horner is to RB what Frank Williams was to Williams or Enzo was to Ferrari.
I'm surprised FOM even bothered to make a statement about something entirely unconcerning for them.
Ultimately, the matter only concers Red Bull Racing to any extent, with all other organizations merely being third-parties.
Unfortunately if the investigation finds Horny guilty even 1% the Fia can and will suspend/fine or ban him for a period of time from the paddock, as for the injured party, if the mentioned amount of $$ has been dangled in front of her, my thing would be , well , im f**ked for a career in Motorsport now anyway ,So ill take the cash, there are always consequences .
Ok how about this, injured party offered a job by Mer, Horner out on his ear, replaced by some Austrian clueless big I am, Max goes to Mer, RB has no top driver and crumbles as a team.
Result, eitherMax wins for Mer or Lewis or Charles win for Fer. Great season, loads of money and adoration for Lewis, revenge is sweet for Toto for 2021 who then retires very very rich. Horner has to sell everything to finance his divorce. Ford pull out of F1 Lib sell f1.
Your on some great Drugs
🙈🙉🙊
Mushrooms dried doing the job
And Hollywood makes a Movie about it!
So, the Dutch rag "suggested" there was sexual impropriety - without any facts to back the claim.
Dutch author: "Zo, were you and Herr Horner close?": Aggrieved party: "Well, we got along OK." Dutch author: "Ja, ja - but vas he attracted to you, did he flirt?" There isn't a woman in the world that doesn't want to be desired - aggrieved Party: "Well, now that you mention it ...".
Suddenly, it is no longer a matter of unpleasant conversations about her poor work ethic, it is now a "zexual issue..."
Ten bucks says she an entitled American or Canadian millennial.
Let’s be sensible for a minute,Horner has too much on the FIA ex cons, it will all be quietly buried. Joss will fail ,RB the company will back Horner, RB the team will go on winning. It’s called maintaining the status quo.
Toto says this must be open and transparent for the sake of F1 as a whole. Fat chance. Who is investigating? Who is the other party? Who does the investigator submit his report to? What are the accusations in detail and what is the proof? Where are the criminal proceedings? For sure Horner is a fighter, he will not hand over his team at the height of its success on the basis of gossip. Nor should he and I am not a fan.
No proof in the public domain, no case.
I have empathy for Christian Horner. Trial by media has found him guilty before any evidence has been presented by either party!
The aggrieved party has jumped onto the "Me Too" bandwagon with expectations of a big cash handout!
Our Canadian friend is probably correct with their diagnosis!
Hey - thx. I'd forgotten all about that "Me Too" tread-mill.
Hey - thx. I'd forgotten all about that "Me Too" tread-mill.
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