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Christian Horner breaks silence after being cleared of alleged ‘inappropriate behaviour’
Embattled Red Bull team principal Christian Horner returned to the Bahrain paddock without wife Geri on Saturday ahead of the first race of the 2024 F1 season and after hundreds of WhatsApp messages allegedly written by him to a female colleague were leaked.
He was cleared on Wednesday to continue in the role following an internal probe into “inappropriate behaviour” by the F1 team’s parent company Red Bull GmbH. He has always denied the claims.
But just 24 hours later, messages and a number of images apparently exchanged between Horner and the complainant were sent from an anonymous email account to 149 members of the F1 paddock– on the eve of this weekend’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner’s wife, Geri, has arrived in Bahrain ahead of the race on Saturday and it is reported that she will be present on the pre-race grid.
Horner said: “I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate I have always denied the allegations. I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way.”
Follow the latest news from F1 below.
LATEST: Geri Horner has arrived on grid in support of husband Christian
Bright and early, Christian Horner arrived at the paddock in Bahrain for the first race of this season this afternoon, starting at 3pm (GMT).
Notably, wife Geri Halliwell was not present with him. But reports indicate that the Spice Girl pop star was present on the grid in support of her husband this afternoon.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 11:59
Christian Horner responds after texts allegedly sent to female colleague leaked
The team principal, married to Spice Girl member Geri Horner who arrived in Bahrain late on Thursday, was cleared of “inappropriate behaviour” on Wednesday after a three-week internal probe conducted by an external lawyer, following allegations from a female colleague which were strongly refuted by Horner.
However, just 24 hours later, WhatsApp texts and pictures were leaked from an anonymous source – to FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, the sport’s nine other team principals and members of the media – allegedly showing conversations between Horner and the complainant. The Independent has seen the leaked material, a Google Drive with 79 separate documents, but is unable to verify the authenticity of the content.
It is also unclear currently whether the alleged exchanges formed part of the investigation or whether it is new evidence. The embattled Red Bull boss was present in the F1 paddock in Bahrain on Friday, as his star driver Max Verstappen took pole position for the race on Saturday.
Horner, 50, met with Ben Sulayem and Domenicali on Friday at the Bahrain circuit. It remains to be seen how F1 and the sport’s governing body handle the matter in the next few days, after a saga which has overshadowed the first race of the 2024 season.
(David Davies/PA Wire)
Kieran Jackson1 March 2024 12:16
Christian Horner lates – Max Verstappen eases pressure on team principal with F1 win
Max Verstappen delivered for Christian Horner’s crisis-hit Red Bull team by winning the opening race of the Formula One season in Bahrain on Saturday.
The build-up to the first round of the campaign here in the Gulf Kingdom has totally been overshadowed by allegations whirling around Red Bull team principal Horner.
But Horner, who was joined by his wife Geri in a show of unity ahead of Saturday’s 57-lap race, can take temporary relief from seeing Verstappen lead a Red Bull one-two, with Sergio Perez second.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took the chequered flag in third, one place ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton a disappointing fifth and seventh respectively for Mercedes. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished sixth.
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 17:30
Christian Horner latest – Max Vertstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix
F1 Bahrain Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix!
A cruise once again for the reigning world champion!
He got off the line quickly and has not looked back! 25 points and an extra point for the fastest lap – as he wins the first race of the season by 22 seconds.
2. Sergio Perez (+22.508)
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 17:00
Christian Horner latest – Bahrain Grand Prix
Here are some shots of the Bahrain Grand Prix and Red Bull:
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
(AP)
(Getty Images)
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 16:30
Christian Horner latest – Max Verstappen leads Bahrain Grand Prix
Christian Horner might have a situation going on off the track, but it has not had any impact on Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, who are leading the opening Grand Prix of the season.
Verstappen was the favourite heading into the race and has established a healthy lead from the outset.
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 16:00
Christian Horner latest – Red Bull team boss wife’s Geri looked comfortable in Bahrain
Here are some shots of Geri:
(AFP via Getty Images)
(David Davies/PA Wire)
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 15:30
Christian Horner latest – what has happened on Saturday so far
Christian Horner and his wife Geri Halliwell walked into the Bahrain Grand Prix paddock hand-in-hand on Saturday in a public show of unity after the Red Bull Formula One team boss was cleared of allegations of misconduct towards a female employee.
The 50-year-old Horner and former Spice Girls singer Halliwell looked poised as they made their way to Red Bull’s hospitality area, where they mingled with VIP guests in full view of photographers and television cameras.
Their appearance together at the season-opening race came after F1 media and key paddock figures received on Thursday an anonymous email containing a Google Drive link to purported evidence submitted to the investigation.
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 15:00
Christian Horner latest: The Red Bull boss gears up for first Grand Prix of the season
After arriving hand in hand with his wife, the Red Bull team principal has to put all of the allegations behind him to focus on the first race of the season which starts at 3pm GMT.
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 14:45
LATEST: Geri Horner has arrived on grid in support of husband Christian
Here is another photo of the former Spice Girl’s arrival:
Sonia Twigg2 March 2024 14:30
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