Ford, Red Bull’s future engine supplier, has remained silent on Christian Horner after previously speaking out following initial allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” against the team boss.
The 50-year-old’s future with the Formula One team has come under scrutiny after he was accused of “coercive behaviour” towards a close employee of the Milton Keynes-based team last month.
Reports in the Netherlands claimed that the allegations go even deeper and that Horner allegedly sent sexual messages to the woman in question.
And although Horner, the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Haillwell, was cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation into his conduct, the saga took another turn after 79 screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by the supreme emerged online .
Hundreds of WhatsApp messages, some apparently sexual in nature, were sent to 149 of Formula One’s key figures, including all of Horner’s fellow team principals, via an anonymous account. FIA President Mohammad ben Sulayem, who will meet in the paddock today, was also among those awarded.
Ford has refused to comment on leaked messages allegedly sent by Red Bull boss Christian Horner as the crisis facing the F1 boss deepens.
Red Bull’s future engine supplier previously spoke out about the saga after initial allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” against Horner emerged.
Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsport, said the ‘family business’ expects ‘very high standards of behavior and integrity’ in response to the Horner controversy.
When Mail Sport approached Ford, which will become Red Bull’s engine supplier in 2026, regarding the leaked messages and continued speculation over its future, the company declined to comment.
Previously, in February, Ford had expressed concern about the allegations and warned that they expected “very high standards of behavior and integrity.”
Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsport, said last month at Daytona International Speedway: “As a family-owned business held to very high standards of behavior and integrity, we expect the same from our partners.”
“It seems to us, and what we have been told, that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And, of course, they are also concerned about their brand.
“And that’s why they have an independent investigation and until we see what’s true, it’s too early for us to comment on anything.”
Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is fighting to save his career after hundreds of messages allegedly sent to an employee were leaked online.
Horner and Halliwell in a holiday photograph taken on an unidentified beach during Christmas
Horner is currently in Bahrain after traveling for the start of the F1 season, where he vowed to continue fighting within hours of the scandal deepening. He has managed the Red Bull F1 team for 19 years and has led it to 13 world championships.
He is also fighting to save his nine-year marriage to Geri, who is said to have “completely collapsed” over the leak.
Ben Sulayem and F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali will meet to discuss the leaks, and it remains to be seen whether the governing body will launch its own investigation.
This morning Horner was speaking to a senior FOM figure in the team’s hospitality area.
“I will not comment on anonymous speculation,” Horner said in his statement Thursday after receiving the email. ‘But, to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.
‘I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully with it every step of the way.
Horner has managed the Red Bull team for 19 years and has led them to 13 world championships.
‘It was a thorough and fair investigation carried out by an independent specialist lawyer, and concluded by dismissing the complaint filed.
“I remain fully focused on the start of the season.”
Announcing its conclusion on Wednesday, the company said: “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete and Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been dismissed.”
The complainant has the right to appeal. “Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.”
Horner also changed his WhatsApp avatar yesterday. It is no longer the image that appears in the alleged exchanges with the woman in question.
Horner’s wife, former Spice Girl Halliwell, had planned to fly to the Grand Prix in Bahrain this weekend to meet Horner publicly, but people close to the former pop star have said this is now “highly unlikely.” Let her join him. .
Instead, the mother of two felt “humiliated” after the messages were spread “so widely,” a friend added.
Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges allegedly between Horner and his colleague were disclosed through an anonymous email account.
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