A SERIES of shocking sex messages sent by Christian Horner to a colleague have been leaked after Red Bull cleared him of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
Some of the messages and photos show details of private conversations between the F1 boss and an unidentified employee who appears to be a woman.
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Christian Horner was cleared of the shocking charges yesterday and flew to Bahrain this morning
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Horner’s Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell was reportedly due to fly to Bahrain just hours before the internet leak. Credit: Getty
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Horner looks intently at his phone from the side of the F1 Paddock during the second day of testing in Bahrain last Friday
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Christian Horner told a reporter today that he was ‘pleased’ that the investigation had been concludedCredit: PA
A series of WhatsApp messages, which also mention Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell, were sent from an anonymous email to hundreds of journalists.
Although the messages do not appear to contain explicit images, some texts are of a sexually suggestive nature.
The leak is another major blow to Red Bull as the messages were revealed just 24 hours after the end of a three-week internal investigation into alleged misconduct.
In response to the leak, Horner released a statement that read: “I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations, respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully with it every step of the way.
READ MORE ABOUT CHRISTIAN HORNER
“It was a thorough and fair investigation by an independent specialist lawyer and it concluded with the dismissal of the complaint. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.”
The Red Bull Racing boss, 50, arrived in Bahrain this morning smiling for the F1 season opener – just two days before the first race.
Horner, married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was told yesterday that he could keep his place in Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team.
Today, he told reporters that he was “satisfied” that the investigation had come to an end.
Geri, whom he married in 2015, is said to be “relieved and elated” that her husband was cleared of any wrongdoing.
And the messages were leaked just hours after Geri was reportedly due to fly to Bahrain to join her husband.
The former pop star, 51, stood firmly by his side during the three-week investigation.
Horner has always vehemently denied allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to a woman at work.
He told Sky Sports today: “I’m just pleased the process is over, I can’t comment on that.
“The focus is now on the Grand Prix and the season ahead and trying to defend both our titles.
Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8 hours of grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony… and why the saga may continue
“I’m glad to be here in Bahrain with the team, focused on the season ahead.
– The team has never been stronger.
The F1 boss looked relaxed this morning as he arrived in the F1 paddock with Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey.
He grinned as the team went to work at the Bahrain International Circuit and hugged star Max Verstappen as they waved goodbye.
Red Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company yesterday confirmed the woman’s claims had been dismissed – and the statement was released just minutes after Horner landed in the Gulf kingdom.
It said: “Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been dismissed. Red Bull is confident that the investigation was fair, rigorous and impartial.
“The investigation report is confidential and contains private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, so we will not comment further out of respect for all concerned.
“Red Bull will continue to strive to meet the highest standards in the workplace.”
The team’s parent company confirmed that the complainant, who is understood to still be working at the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, “has the right to appeal”.
But other team principals have expressed doubts about Red Bull’s investigation as they called for more transparency amid calls for an FIA investigation.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “There was a woman in the organization who indicated there was a problem, it was investigated and we all received a message yesterday that it was fine.
“I believe that big sport needs more transparency in such dangerous topics.
“I wonder what the attitude of the leadership is, I think it should not remain vague as it is now.
“We are outsiders and, of course, we do not know exactly what is happening.
“But just looking at the statement, it doesn’t seem to me how things should go in this day and age.
“Although in Formula 1 we may be in our own bubble and others are happy with that.”
And McLaren boss Zak Brown said: “There are still a lot of rumors and also a lot of questions.
“I think that those who run this sport have a responsibility to the whole sport and to all our fans to make it clear that everything is clear and transparent to them.
“That they came to the same conclusion as Red Bull and that they agree with the outcome.
“Until then, I think there will continue to be speculation and a lot of unanswered questions about the whole process. It’s not healthy for the sport.
“It is up to the FIA and Formula 1 whether they can clarify whether they have the necessary clarity.”
A source close to Geri said she has been a “rock” for Christian, but the last few weeks have been “hell” for the family.
“These have been weeks of hell for Christian and his family. As he has said all along, those claims are ‘crazy,'” they said.
“A thorough investigation was conducted and the allegations proved to be nonsense.
“Geri stood firmly behind Christian — and his entire family is relieved and elated that it’s over.
“Those feelings are there, but no one close to Christian wants to celebrate much after what he’s been through.
“For now he’s refocused on winning races.”
Geri was clearly devastated when the news broke earlier this month, left in “floods of tears” and turned to her fellow Spice Girls for support.
And she was said to have insisted behind closed doors that he had done nothing wrong.
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Red Bull boss all smiles in Bahrain this morning after flying in for the F1 season opener Credit: PA
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Christian Horner pictured arriving at the track with Adrian Newey, Chief Technical OfficerCredit: Getty
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Verstappen and Horner hug today in the F1 paddock in Bahrain
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Horner with wife Geri Halliwell during the F1 Monaco Grand Prix at the Circuit de Monaco in May 2023 Credit: Getty
A look at the life and career of Christian Horner
CHRISTIAN Horner is one of the most famous names in Formula 1 because he helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1991 – wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
1993-1997 – Competed in a range of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two and Formula 3000
1997 – Founded and developed F3000 team Arden
1999 – Retired from driving and continued to develop the Arden team
2005 – Appointed Red Bull team boss, becoming the youngest team manager at the time
2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
2010 – wins Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four consecutive two-seaters
2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
2022-23 – Red Bull wins the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship two years in a row
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Source: HIS Education