Christian Horner’s accuser was suspended from Red Bull for being “dishonest”, it was claimed today, as the F1 boss said his wife Geri Halliwell had been “very supportive” but admitted the scandal had been “very difficult” for his family.
The employee accused the Red Bull team manager of “coercive behavior”, an accusation of which he was acquitted in an internal investigation by the team’s parent company in Salzburg last Wednesday.
Mail Sport understands that the decision to suspend her from her duties at the Milton Keynes factory is a direct result of the investigation’s findings. The anonymous employee was still working as of this week.
According to the BBC, the reason given for her suspension was that she had allegedly been dishonest. She is believed to have been accused of “inaccuracies in her evidence”.
Today, Horner, 51, faced reporters and admitted the saga had taken its toll on his family, while dodging questions about the woman at the center of it.
Christian Horner faced a barrage of questions on Thursday after a week of unwanted headlines.
Geri Halliwell accompanied Horner on race day last week in a defiant show of support for her embattled husband.
The couple looked in good spirits throughout the day and shared several kisses in a successful day on the track for the team.
“It’s obviously been a very difficult period,” he said. ‘I am married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed on your marriage.
‘I am very lucky to have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife. Of course, it is very difficult, it is a great challenge. “When there are children involved, parents, families, it is not pretty.”
Following the dramatic announcement of the suspension, a Red Bull spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on an internal employee matter.” The inquiry heard 60 hours of evidence and culminated in a 150-page report by a top London prosecutor.
The employee may still appeal the outcome of the investigation. The deadline to do so extends five days from the time the official legal letters were delivered to both parties, which is believed to have been Monday or Tuesday of this week.
Horner, whose team got off to a perfect start to their season-opening double title defence, was eager to draw attention again to Saturday’s Grand Prix.
After answering a barrage of questions on the subject, he called for the invasion of his private life to stop and for the focus to be on racing.
“The intrusion into my family is enough.” He said. ‘We need to move forward. Now is the time to focus on the reason we are here, which is to compete in Formula One.
‘There has been some follow-up and a lot of leaks about what is a private and confidential matter between employees and the company.
“Unfortunately, it was thanks to that leak that it got a lot of coverage.”
The Red Bull boss has so far resisted calls for him to resign from the role he has held since 2005.
Halliwell will not be present in Saudi Arabia for the second Grand Prix of the season
Horner was seen laughing with Max Verstappen in the garage before practice on Thursday.
Last week, anticipating the letters, Red Bull’s GmbH issued a statement saying: “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete and Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been dismissed.”
‘The plaintiff has the right to appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.
‘The investigation report is confidential and contains 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 those involved. “Red Bull will continue to strive to meet the highest standards in the workplace.”
Thursday’s shocking move comes after Halliwell reportedly She demanded that her husband cut ties with the colleague and wants the woman “out of the picture.”
She put on a show of support for her embattled husband at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, with the pair kissing and hugging in front of the cameras before Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull.
It also follows claims in The Times that his colleague had been given until Wednesday to lodge an appeal against the decision to clear Horner of controlling behaviour.
The pair have continued to work together since the scandal broke and insiders reportedly said the ‘status quo’ could not continue and either the woman or Horner would have to leave.
Early on Thursday, the Red Bull team principal was seen deep in talks with a colleague in Jeddah, the capital of Saudi Arabia, as he faces growing pressure on his position.
Horner has been publicly criticized by Jos, the father of star driver Max Verstappen, and they were seen rowing together last week.
While Ginger Spice may have supported her husband in a show of solidarity this weekend, inside sources said the pop star wanted the employee “out of the picture.”
Jos Verstappen (right), who has been Horner’s vocal opponent, will not be present in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
A source previously told The Sun: “Although she smiled for the cameras at the Grand Prix, Geri has set some strict ground rules.
“One is that Christian cuts or reduces contact with the woman, but that is difficult because of his role at Red Bull.
And she’s definitely given her opinion on the messages she sends. For obvious reasons, Geri would like her colleague, whom she knew before her appointment, to be as far away as possible.
The source added that Red Bull cannot fire the woman because there are no reasons to do so.
An F1 insider also told the publication that Halliwell, who shares a son, Monty, seven, with Horner, had shown “nothing but support” to her husband but is unlikely to be at the Grand Prix. Saudi Arabia next weekend because it is “incredibly busy.”
Horner faces calls to quit his role and has been accused by Verstappen’s father Jos of “breaking up the team”.
Verstappen senior, who manages his world champion son Max, told Mail Sport in Bahrain: “There is tension here as he stays in position.”
‘The team is in danger of disintegrating. It can’t continue as it is. It will explode. He’s playing the victim, when he’s the one causing the problems.’