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Text messages and photographs Christian Horner allegedly sent to a female colleague have been revealed after the Red Bull principal was cleared of misconduct on Wednesday.
Horner, the 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was accused of ‘coercive behaviour towards female employee’ but remained in his £8million per year job after Red Bull Racing confirmed that their internal investigation into the matter had concluded. He has vehemently denied all allegations throughout the probe.
Mail Sport can reveal that the text messages allegedly from Horner have been leaked ahead of Formula One’s curtain raiser in Bahrain.
A Google drive containing the texts and photographs was emailed from an anonymous account to hundreds of journalists and team principals.
The world champion team’s parent company Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg, who launched the probe on February 5, released a statement on Wednesday which read: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.
Christian Horner was cleared of ‘coercive behaviour towards female employee’ on Wednesday
Alleged text messages 50-year-old Horner sent to the female employee have been leaked
Red Bull launched the probe on Horner, husband of ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, on February 5
Throughout the probe, he had maintained his innocence and insisted he was going nowhere
‘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.’
Horner broke his silence on the concluded investigation on Thursday morning as Red Bull geared up for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Horner told Sky Sports on Thursday morning: ‘I’m just pleased that the process is over, I can’t comment about it.
‘The focus is very much now on the Grand Prix and the season ahead and to defend both of our titles.’
When asked if he felt this was the end of the matter, the Red Bull chief replied: ‘I can’t give you any further comment but the process has been conducted and concluded. I’m pleased to be here in Bahrain and look on to the season ahead.
‘The unity in the team has never been stronger.’
Horner, who remained silent throughout the probe, has won 13 world championships since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest team principal on the grid, yet is now its longest-serving.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was quizzed ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix over whether Red Bull’s probe into Horner had impacted or altered the team’s preparations for the season.
The Dutchman, insisting that his focus has not been altered, replied: ‘It doesn’t. I’m very focused on just the performance of the car and myself.
Former popstar Geri (left) had been devastated by the jolt to their lives caused by the claims
Horner embraces three-time champion Verstappen in Bahrain ahead of the 2024 curtain raiser
Max Verstappen urged that he and Red Bull had not altered their preparations during the probe
‘Hopefully it will be resolved very soon. It’s a whole team effort that everyone has to stick together and work to more success, so that’s why it’s important to get everything resolved very soon.
‘(Horner) is very important otherwise he wouldn’t have been in that position for such a long time.’
Former Spice Girl sensation Geri, mother of their seven-year-old son Monty, stood resolutely by Horner throughout the ordeal. She is said to be ‘devastated’ by the jolt the investigation has had on their lives.
It is understood she could join him in Bahrain to watch the start of the 2024 Formula One campaign.
