On Sunday, the Telegraaf reported that Max Verstappen had been approached by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the president of the FIA, to publicly support Christian Horner.
BBC Sport independently verified the story. This followed Verstappen's qualified support for Horner during the lead-up to the Bahrain Grand Prix, where he was repeatedly questioned about his confidence in Horner. The FIA has been contacted for comment. Verstappen's involvement is significant due to his influence within Red Bull stemming from his on-track success. It also highlights internal tensions within Red Bull, including conflicts between Horner and Helmut Marko, as well as between the Thai majority owners and executives in Austria. Last year, the Verstappens sided with Marko after his disagreement with Horner. The company's ownership structure is divided, with 51% owned by the Yoovidhya family and 49% by Red Bull in Austria, led by Mark Mateschitz, the son of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who passed away in October 2022.
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Max Verstappen's dad, Jos, was present in the paddock on what turned out to be a chaotic Thursday for Red Bull. Christian Horner's future remains a topic of hot debate despite being cleared of alleged inappropriate behaviour following a lengthy investigation.
Horner was all smiles at the start of the day as he resumed normal service after a complaint made by a female Red Bull employee was dismissed by the drinks company. The 50-year-old had been carrying out his F1 duties amid a backdrop of uncertainty while an independent barrister brought in by Red Bull compiled their findings. On Thursday afternoon, another bombshell hit the paddock as a Google Drive folder, allegedly containing messages and photos from Horner to an unnamed person, was sent to journalists by an anonymous source. The Red Bull team principal responded by saying: "I won't 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. It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister and it has concluded, dismissing the complaint made." According to The Times, Horner was seen leaving the Red Bull garage after Thursday's Bahrain practice sessions before stopping for a quick word with F1 legend David Coulthard and heading inside. Christian Horner has been cleared of allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ from a female employee and will be staying on as Red Bull boss.
Horner, the longest serving Team Principal on the F1 grid, was being investigated after a female Red Bull employee accused him of ‘inappropriate and controlling’ behaviour. An official statement from the F1 team released on Wednesday said: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. The complainant has a right of appeal. ‘Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. ‘The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. ‘Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.’ The 50-year-old – husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – had previously said: ‘I fully deny any accusations.’ A hearing into the allegations took place nearly three weeks ago with Red Bull keen for the matter to be resolved ahead of the season opening Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. The independent lawyer hired to investigate the matter reportedly handed in their findings a few days ago in the form of a 150 page dossier. Horner has served as Red Bull’s Team Principal since 2005. Red Bull future engine supplier Ford Motor Co. said Friday it is awaiting the results of an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour by team principal Christian Horner, but a top executive stressed that Ford holds its company and partners to very high moral standards.
Ford is slated to become Red Bull’s engine supplier in 2026 and is the first of Red Bull’s existing partners to comment on the controversy surrounding Horner. The team leader has remained defiant in his denial of claims of misconduct made to parent company Red Bull, which two weeks ago announced it had launched an independent investigation into the claims. Mark Rushbrook, global head of Ford Performance Motorsport, said Friday at Daytona International Speedway that Ford is awaiting the outcome of the investigation into Horner. “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,” Rushbrook said. “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. “And that’s why they’ve got an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of that, it’s too early for us to comment on it all.” Horner one day earlier insisted it was “business as normal” as he took centre stage at the launch of the team’s car for the upcoming Formula 1 season. “Obviously, there’s a process that’s ongoing at the moment. Some allegations have been made which I fully deny and I comply, obviously, with that process and will continue to do so,” Horner said. “I think it’s been very clear and the position of Red Bull has been that it’s business as normal. Obviously there’s a job to do and I deny fully the accusations that have been made. My role obviously continues.” What Horner has been accused of doing by a Red Bull employee has not been made clear. The investigation was launched by parent company Red Bull Energy out of Austria and initially seemed to involve Horner’s “aggressive management style.” But in the two weeks since, the F1 industry has been rife with gossip, speculation and, as of Friday, news reports indicating Horner’s supposed transgressions involve allegations of sexual misconduct. And, with much of the unsubstantiated claims being made to Dutch media outlets, there’s loud chatter that both three-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen and his father, Jos, are behind the leaks. Max Verstappen, who races under the Dutch flag, at the launch on Thursday said his relationship with Horner remains “very good” ahead of the new season. “We’ve seen each other quite a few times. We’ve achieved a lot of things together so that doesn’t change suddenly,” he said. “My contact with Christian has been the same as on the first day. It’s been like normal.” The 50-year-old Horner has been Red Bull’s team principal since it entered F1 as a full constructor in 2005. He has guided the team to six constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ championships during his time at the top. Verstappen has won the drivers’ title in each of the last three seasons. The team won all but one of the 22 races last year. Horner is married since 2015 to Geri Halliwell, better known as Ginger Spice of the female pop group The Spice Girls. Max Verstappen can look back on an excellent first day of testing. In Bahrain, the Dutchman drove by far the most laps of all drivers and was more than a second faster than the rest of the field.
There were no problems for the three-time world champion. At the Bahrain International Circuit it was Verstappen who set the pace right from the start. The Limburger already finished the morning session as the fastest and after lunch he went even further. Second faster Verstappen drove 142 laps, which amounts to more than 2.5 times the normal race distance. The three-time world champion managed to set a time of 1:31.344, making him 1.1 seconds faster than number two Lando Norris. Carlos Sainz clocked the third fastest time, a tenth behind Norris. Verstappen's test day went smoothly. The mood at the formation was high, which indicated that the entire program had gone entirely according to plan. There were no major problems all day. Verstappen will be in action again on Thursday after the lunch break. The morning belongs to Sergio Pérez, who will also take care of the last day on Friday. In an eagerly awaited reveal, the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team launched the W15 E PERFORMANCE, setting a bold course for the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. The unveiling not only showcased a car that builds upon the lessons learned over the past challenging seasons but also symbolized the team’s relentless pursuit of returning to the pinnacle of motorsport. Team Principal Toto Wolff and Technical Director James Allison shared insights into the philosophy behind the W15’s development, emphasizing a blend of innovation and reflection. The car represents a pivotal step in Mercedes‘ journey, with Wolff acknowledging the “mountain to climb” to compete at the front and Allison highlighting the iterative design process that has led to significant improvements over the W14. “We know we have a mountain to climb to fight at the very front. There are no miracles in this sport,” Toto Wolff said in a statement. “But our ambition and determination are strong. Since charting this new course, development has progressed well. “We had several items on our priority list for this car. We will soon see if we’ve made the step we’ve aimed for.” The W15’s debut at Silverstone, shared by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, marked the beginning of a critical testing and development phase. The car’s livery, blending the iconic Mercedes silver with the powerful black of recent years, commemorates the Silver Arrows’ 90th anniversary, reflecting the team’s heritage and future aspirations. With a new chassis, gearbox casing, and aerodynamic refinements aimed at efficiency and downforce, the W15 targets the unpredictability issues of its predecessor, particularly around the rear axle. The design team has meticulously worked to ensure a more stable and controllable platform, vital for the drivers to extract maximum performance.
Christian Horner has been spotted ahead of his Red Bull hearing over alleged inappropriate behaviour on a major day for Formula One. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour have been made against the team principal.
The 50-year-old has said that he denies the allegations. Red Bull are yet to expand on the nature of the complaint, although the BBC reports that it relates to alleged inappropriate and controlling behaviour. Horner was spotted in the back seat of a car on his way to the hearing, which is taking place in London. Red Bull, the F1 team Horner has managed since 2005, say they are treating the allegations ‘extremely seriously’. They sought to have the investigation completed swiftly, with the hearing taking place less than a week after the allegations first emerged. An independent lawyer will question Horner during his hearing. "After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation,” Red Bull said in a statement on Monday. "This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister. The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."Questions have been raised over Horner’s future in F1. The BBC report that many insiders in F1 do not expect Horner to survive in his role.Red Bull are due to launch their RB20 car for the 2024 season on February 15. It is unclear if Horner will lead the presentation. Horner has been team principal at Red Bull since 2005, the first year the team competed in F1. He has overseen six Constructors’ Championship victories and has played a role in Max Verstappen’s three consecutive world titles.The Brit raced professionally but retired at the age of 25 when he set his sights on managing an F1 team.Bahrain will host the first Grand Prix of the 2024 season on March 2, although testing gets underway on February 21. Red Bull’s Verstappen will be hoping to win a fourth consecutive world title, while the team will want to retain their constructors’ crown Christian Horner is under investigation after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour.
The Red Bull Formula One team boss - who has been married to pop star Geri Horner since 2015 - is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the motorsport team, which has confirmed that it's taking the allegations "extremely seriously". In a statement, Red Bull said: "After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. "This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister. The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time." Asked about the accusations by the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Horner replied: "I completely deny these claims." Horner, 50, has been the Red Bull team principal since their first Formula One season in 2005, and he's enjoyed huge success during his time with the team, winning seven drivers' championships and six constructors' championships. Meanwhile, Geri previously revealed that she has a "really loving relationship" with her husband. The pop star - who shot to stardom with the Spice Girls in the 90s - told The Sunday Times newspaper: "We’re best friends. And I went to an all-girls school - I didn’t know I could be best friends with a man." Geri also revealed that she's always felt totally at ease when she's with Christian. Reflecting on the early days of their relationship, Geri said: "The brilliant thing was I was just, like: this is me. "I’m not going to hold myself in in a Herve Leger dress. I was quite grumpy to Christian, actually, and my sillier self came out. I was just real." Seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is set for a shock switch from Mercedes to Ferrari in 2025 as replacement for Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, according to multiple media reports on Thursday.Mercedes and Ferrari declined to comment on speculation that would be by far the most sensational driver move of the so-called “silly season”.
Sky Sports television said it understood Mercedes principal Toto Wolff would brief the team before a formal announcement later on Thursday. Hamilton, 39, has been with Mercedes since 2013 and won his first title with McLaren in 2008. His contract is due to expire at the end of 2025 and a move to Ferrari would surely extend that into the sport's new engine era in 2026. The Briton has been linked with Maranello repeatedly during his career, particularly when his contract has been up for renewal, but he signed a new two-year deal with Mercedes last August. Despite his loyalty to Mercedes, Hamilton has remained close to Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur after winning Formula Three and GP2 (now Formula Two) championships with the Frenchman's ART team as a junior in 2005 and 2006. Vasseur said last August that he talked to Hamilton at every race weekend. In 2019, Wolff said Hamilton and Mercedes had discussed the possibility of the driver one day racing for Ferrari and such a move would be no drama. “You have to simply acknowledge that probably it’s in every driver’s head to drive at Ferrari one day,” the Austrian said then. “It’s the most iconic, historic Formula One brand out there and I totally respect if a driver has the desire to drive at Ferrari. “Even within the team we have discussed it and with Lewis we have discussed it and we have agreed on the topic.” The most successful Formula One driver of all time, with a record 103 wins and 104 pole positions in a career that started in 2007, Hamilton has not won a race since December 2021 as Mercedes struggled to match Red Bull and Max Verstappen. Verstappen has won the last three titles and starts 2024 as favourite for a fourth. The Dutch 26-year-old has a contract to the end of 2028. Hamilton would join Charles Leclerc at Ferrari, with the Italian team announcing a week ago that the Monegasque had signed on for several more seasons. McLaren also ensured Lando Norris, who had been seen by some as a possible future replacement for Hamilton, was off the market by announcing a new deal on Friday. A move to Ferrari would likely be Hamilton’s Formula One swansong and a calculated risk, with the 2026 rule changes leaving everyone entering new territory. The possibility of a record eighth title, if not with Mercedes this season, with a third team would also be a sensational step. Remember the simplicity and elegance of Toro Rosso? Remember how Red Bull jettisoned that entirely to prop up its designer clothing brand not one person would know about, had it not been emblazoned on their Formula 1 cars? Silly as AlphaTauri was, we all got used to it, but now the Austrian energy drink/motorsports empire has given up on that experiment. We knew the team's name was due to change a third time this coming season, and a recently registered domain has, unfortunately, given fans a view of what to expect. Prepare for Visa CashApp Racing Bulls.
We can all wish it didn't sound like the subject line of a phishing attempt delivered directly to your junk folder, but this is what happens when money starts flowing in fast and free: team names become ever-longer parodies of themselves.If nothing else, Visa CashApp Racing Bulls sounds more identifiably like an F1 crew, I suppose, than Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber. And almost anything's better than parading around Saudi Aramco as your title sponsor. I still think Andretti Cadillac would sound pretty badass, but I'd wager the paddock disagrees. The Racing Bulls can recover some good faith if they show up for winter testing with a really sweet livery, as Toro Rosso used to have. But something tells me it's going to be hard to elegantly work in CashApp green, like when Aston Martin was supported by that one water company that has quickly overtaken global motorsport. At least pink goes slightly better with Alpine blue.
The team formerly known as AlphaTauri hasn't yet publicized when it plans to reveal its 2024 challenger, but considering there's an entire brand relaunch wrapped up in there, too, it's possible we hear official word on the team name ahead of the car's introduction. Maybe there's even enough time to give a third payment platform top billing. |
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