CHRISTIAN Horner survived a sexting scandal, an eight-hour grilling, and his wife’s agony, only for his career to collapse a year later.
The Red Bull Racing boss, 51, was sacked today after 20 years as the F1 team’s principal.
The Mega AgencyChristian Horner and wife Geri at the F1 movie premier[/caption]
GettyHorner and star driver Max Verstappen[/caption]
Horner after being made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in December
His sacking comes as Red Bull have slumped down the rankings, with star driver Max Verstappen, 26, sitting in third.
Red Bull are also fourth in the Constructor’s standings and, even worse, Verstappen is reportedly eyeing a move to huge rivals Mercedes.
But his downfall also comes a year after the ‘sexting scandal’ that engulfed him over texts he apparently sent to a female employee.
The Brit was accused of sending suggestive WhatsApp messages, in texts that were leaked.
In February 2024, Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing after bombshell claims were made by a female colleague about his behaviour.
He had spent a tumultuous three weeks fighting for his career after a female colleague alleged controlling and coercive behaviour by the boss.
The probe later investigated him allegedly sending improper messages to a woman.
Horner vehemently denied the bombshell claims.
He faced an eight-hour grilling during the probe which was carried out by a KC and interviewed key staff members in the team.
When asked during a press conference at the time if he was completely behind Horner, Verstappen didn’t exactly give him a ringing endorsement.
He said: “Well, I’m trusting the process, that’s what’s happening right now. I do not want to get into that.”
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell stood by Horner despite reportedly being left “in floods of tears” when the scandal broke and was supported by pals, including her fellow Spice Girls.
A source said at the time: “This has been weeks of hell for Christian and his family.
“As he has said all along, these claims are ‘nuts’.
ReutersHorner was sacked on Wednesday[/caption]
“Geri has been rock solid behind Christian – and his whole family is relieved and elated that it’s over. Those feelings are there but no one close to Christian feels like celebrating much after what he’s been through.”
After Horner was cleared, Geri made a high profile return to the track in Bahrain holding her husband’s hand.
They were seen before the race sharing an intimate kiss and then standing together afterwards as they watched the drivers take to the podium holding hands and hugging.
A KC cleared Horner for a second time in August after the unnamed accuser launched an appeal following the internal probe.
His £12million-a-year job was secured by support from the Thai majority owners of Red Bull but that seems to have worn out.
Horner outlasted the scandal and reports of a growing rift between him and the Verstappen camp.
GettyHorner with New Zealand racer Liam Lawson[/caption]
GettyHorner was cleared twice of wrongdoing[/caption]
Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former racing driver, is reportedly a friend of the female complainant.
The Dutchman repeatedly called for Horner’s dismissal after the sexting scandal and hours before the Bahrain race in 2024.
Jos and Horner have had a long-running feud after they were seen locked in what looked like a fiery argument after the scandal.
Jos went at Horner after iconic designer Adrian Newey quit the team in May 2024, with son Max trying to play peacemaker.
In June last year, the pair were at war over Jos claiming Horner sabotaged his plans to drive in the Legends Parade in Monaco.
Livid Jos had also slammed “childish” Horner saying he was “completely done” with him.
The pair reportedly had another row on Sunday at Silverstone, according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.
Max claimed his fourth driver’s title despite the behind-the-scenes carnage and on-track challenges from Britain’s Lando Norris in the arguably faster McLaren car in 2024.
But while Max would have been hoping to add to his collection of titles with another defence in 2025 – Red Bull have floundered and been left in the dust by McLaren.
Verstappen finds himself essentially in a one car team – with his teammate Liam Lawson being demoted after just two races, and then his replacement Yuki Tsunoda also failing to impress.
GettyJos Verstappen and Horner had a feud[/caption]
AlamyHorner and Jos at the Red Bull Ring in Austria[/caption]
Max currently has 165 of Red Bull’s total points – while his two teammates combined have just 7.
But while the imperious Max has won two races in Suzuka and Imola, he is trailing both the McLaren cars of Norris and his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Verstappen’s disappointing weekend in Silverstone which saw him spinning after a safety car essentially put the title all but out of his reach.
With Verstappen reportedly looking at options such as Mercedes for 2026, Red Bull face being left without their star driver and their 20-year veteran team principal.
A look at Christian Horner’s life and career
CHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row
The team that has been a powerhouse in F1 since 2010 – winning four titles with Sebastian Vettel, four with Verstappen, and netting 124 Grand Prix wins – now faces an uncertain future.
Horner’s position had become more precarious since his ally and Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz died in October 2022.
Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff said: “We would like to thank Christian Horner for his exceptional work over the last 20 years.
“With his tireless commitment, experience, expertise and innovative thinking, he has been instrumental in establishing Red Bull Racing as one of the most successful and attractive teams in Formula 1.
“Thank you for everything, Christian, and you will forever remain an important part of our team history.”
Laurent Mekies has been appointed as the new CEO of Red Bull Racing, stepping up from the Racing Bulls team.
What was claimed against Horner?
F1 was rocked last year by the sudden news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.
This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
More allegations came as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent improper messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.
Messages were claimed to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.
Horner categorically denied the allegations.
Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Red Bull has won eight Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.
Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List.
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