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Christian Horner: Red Bull team boss refuses to comment on leaked messages
By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer in Bahrain
2 March 2024
Red Bull F1 team boss Christian Horner and wife Geri kiss before the first race of the season
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Red Bull F1 team boss Christian Horner and wife Geri kiss before the first race of the season
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has refused to say whether messages leaked this week are genuine
An anonymous email including messages purporting to involve Horner were leaked a day after Red Bull dismissed a complaint of inappropriate behaviour against him.
Horner said: “I’m not going to comment on anonymous, speculative messages from an unknown source
Horner said he was confident he would be in his role for the entire season.
“I’ve always been entirely confident that I would be here,” he said
“There was a full, lengthy internal process that was completed by an independent KC. And the grievance that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on
An attempt to get him to say whether the messages were genuine was shut down by a Red Bull PR handler.
Red Bull have refused to release the name of the lawyer involved or give any further details about the report that was compiled or how they reached their decision
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner arrives with wife Geri
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,
Geri and Christian Horner arrive at the Bahrain Grand Prix
Horner’s wife Geri visited the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday in an apparent display of unity after the topic had dominated the days leading up to the race
Geri Horner, a member of pop group the Spice Girls, appeared with her husband, and they were later pictured kissing before the season opening race. Red Bull dominated on the track with champion Max Verstappen winning and team-mate Sergio Perez second
Although it was a pointed appearance with cameras present, is not uncommon for Geri to appear at a Grand Prix, and that she attends several races each year
Chalerm Yoovidhya, head of the Thai family that co-owns Red Bull, was also at the race. Yoovidhya declined to answer BBC Sport’s questions
Asked whether he was concerned that someone did not want the controversy surrounding the complaint against him to stop, Horner said: “I’m not going to comment on what motives, whatever person may have for doing this
“My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and going racing. I have the support of an incredible family, of an incredible wife, of an incredible team and everybody within that team and my focus is on going racing and winning races and doing the best that I can
F1’s governing body the FIA said it was discussing the matter with commercial rights holder F1 Management
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and McLaren Racing chief executive officer Zak Brown have both called for the FIA to look into the matter
Wolff said: “The handling of the situation is very critical for F1. It’s not in the hands of competitors to have any action
“We should look at ourselves, and what it is we can do to optimise on all these topics, equality and diversity. I am very proud we are at the forefront of that
“To judge about a person in another team, it is the governing body that needs to judge. They have it in their hands and this is probably where we need to look
“As a team, if we go beyond what we have said, it looks like it is battle between competitors in F1 and I don’t want to reduce that topic to this level
“It is a much wider issue that deserves more space and I don’t want to harm the topic by making it an intra-team battle because it is not
“It is the FIA or the legals who have to look at that. It is outside of the teams’ control
Christian Horner and wife Geri surrounded by photographers
IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Timeline of Horner allegations
5 February: Red Bull announces investigation into Horner after complaint of inappropriate and controlling behaviour is made against him. Horner tells Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: “I completely deny these claims
11 February: Horner is interviewed by lawyer for several hours but hearing finishes without resolution
15 February: Red Bull launch car for 2024 F1 season and Horner tells the BBC the investigation is “a distraction” for his team
21 February: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff calls for investigation to be transparent
28 February: Horner is cleared following internal investigation and Red Bull says he will remain in his role as team principal and chief executive.
29 February: As first practice at the Bahrain Grand Prix begins, Horner tells Sky Sports unity within Red Bull team has never been stronger
Later that day, Horner reiterates his denial of allegations after a series of messages were leaked to F1 personnel and media.
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