Christian Horner: latest: Ford comes out as Red Bull F1 chief still facing ‘inappropriate behaviour’ probe

Christian Horner insists the support he has received from within Red Bull has been “overwhelming,” as the Formula One boss broke his silence during the ongoing probe into his conduct.

The Red Bull team principal also repeatedly refuted the charges of “inappropriate behavior” brought against him by a female colleague and said he was “confident” of clearing his name. He could give no timeframe for when the probe would end.

Appearing publicly for the first time since the probe was publicized—at Red Bull’s 2024 F1 car introduction at their headquarters in Milton Keynes—Horner stated that he planned on being in Bahrain for pre-season testing next week. While unable to comment on the specifics of the probe, Horner remained collected and undeterred by the allegations, continuously stating it was “business as normal” for the world-championship-winning squad ahead of the 2019 F1 season commencing on March 2.

Red Bull’s prospective engine partner Ford has also published a statement on the situation, claiming that they expect “very high standards of behaviour and integrity” from their partners but refusing to comment further until the investigation is done.

Christian Horner insists the support he has received from within Red Bull has been “overwhelming,” as the Formula One boss broke his silence during the ongoing probe into his conduct.

The Red Bull team principal also repeatedly refuted the charges of “inappropriate behaviour” brought against him by a female colleague and said he was “confident” of clearing his name. He could give no timeframe for when the probe would end.

Appearing publicly for the first time since the probe was publicized—at Red Bull’s 2024 F1 car introduction at their headquarters in Milton Keynes—Horner stated that he planned on being in Bahrain for pre-season testing next week.

While unable to comment on the specifics of the probe, Horner remained collected and undeterred by the allegations, continuously stating it was “business as normal” for the world-championship-winning squad ahead of the 2019 F1 season commencing on March 2.

Red Bull senior advisor Helmut Marko has broken his silence over the Christian Horner probe. The F1 team’s boss is being examined by Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, citing purported behavioural grounds.

There is very little detail around the complaints, with Horner fiercely rejecting all allegations made against him. The 50-year-old attended a hearing in London on Friday, meeting with the external barrister selected by Red Bull GmbH.

The team principal will make his first public appearance since Red Bull started to examine complaints of ‘inappropriate behaviour’

Christian Horner’s influence on Formula One—from the 31-year-old hotshot team principal in 2005 to the unmissable stalwart of the paddock nearly 20 years on—is indisputable. The Red Bull boss was faced with a big undertaking when he was put in charge of the energy drink giant’s unusual entrance into the summit of world motorsport in the mid-2000s. The palace he has erected since has been stratospherically amazing.

Case in point was last year’s near-perfect season, winning 21 out of 22 races. It has all been, perhaps, even beyond his own great dreams.

But it might all come down. As facts revealed last Monday, Horner is now subject to an investigation by Red Bull’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, after an allegation of “inappropriate behaviour” was made by a female worker. Horner fiercely disputes the charges.

The Red Bull F1 CEO, whose wife is Spice Girl pop icon Geri Halliwell, faces allegations from a female colleague and is subject to an inquiry by the team’s parent company

Breaking the stranglehold of Ferrari, McLaren, and Renault, Red Bull stormed to four successive drivers’ titles from 2010–2013, with Sebastian Vettel in the cockpit.

Horner was swiftly building a reputation for himself with success on the track and influence off the track, garnering the trust and support of F1 supremo Ecclestone. So much so, in fact, that Horner served as best man at Ecclestone’s wedding to third wife Fabaina in 2012, and then vice versa when Horner married Geri Halliwell three years later. Their straight-talking similarities seemed to transcend the 43-year age divide.

Season-by-season, Horner’s exposure became synonymous with the sport. Even in this current age of record-breaking schedules, he does not miss a race. Always ready to have his say, he rarely turns down an interview with either the print or broadcast press.

One such incident, in Singapore in 2014, witnessed an exchange with Martin Brundle on the grid. Eulogizing about F1’s initial night race circuit, Horner said, “It’s a shame you’re too old to have driven here, really.” Brundle, constantly sharp-witted, instantly jibed back, “Shame you weren’t fast enough to get into Formula One!”

A promising karter in his teenage years, Horner raced for two years in the late 1990s for Arden in Formula 3000, which was then the final stage before a potential F1 ride. Yet one moment in a pre-season test, when he was unable to match Juan Pablo Montoya’s commitment into a high-speed corner, told him all he needed to know.

Montoya would go on to race in F1, whereas Horner would not. Abruptly, he quit racing at the age of 25 and elected to cross over to the management side of the Arden team.

It was there that he built up his early name, winning junior titles. But despite his relative immaturity in a racing management ecosystem then dominated by the senior statesmen of the sport—Bernard Ecclestone, Ron Dennis, Ross Brawn, etc.—his sights were still firmly focused on Formula One.

Though talks with Eddie Jordan about a takeover fell through, at the age of 31, Horner became the youngest team principal on the grid when he was trusted with overseeing Red Bull’s entry into the sport when the company’s co-founder, Dietrich Mateschitz, decided to venture into motorsport by purchasing Jaguar.

Red Bull’s future engine supplier, Ford Motor Co., said it is awaiting the results of an inquiry into alleged inappropriate behaviour by team principal Christian Horner, but a top executive reiterated that Ford holds its firm and partners to very high moral standards.

Ford is expected to become Red Bull’s engine supplier in 2026 and is the first of Red Bull’s existing partners to speak on the turmoil surrounding Horner. The squad leader has remained defiant in his denial of charges of misbehavior made against parent firm Red Bull, which two weeks ago stated it had initiated an independent investigation into the claims.

Mark Rushbrook, worldwide president of Ford Performance Motorsport, said Friday at Daytona International Speedway that Ford is awaiting the outcome of the inquiry against Horner.

“As a family company and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behaviour and integrity, we do expect the same from our partners,” Rushbrook added. “It appears to us, and what we’ve been told, is that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And, of course, they’re worried about their brand as well.

“And that’s why they’ve got an independent investigation, and until we see what truth comes out of that, it’s too early for us to comment on it all.”

Christian Horner spoke out about the claims of inappropriate behaviour made against him for the first time at the Red Bull vehicle presentation on Thursday in Milton Keynes

Horner remarked, “Look, we’re one team, which… The support from stockholders that I’ve had has been amazing. I think the support from shareholders following the loss of Dietrich Mateschitz, again, demonstrates the commitment that there is to Formula 1, to Red Bull Powertrains, to innovative technologies, and to the track vehicle that we’re creating with Adrian Newey.

“So yes, I think we’re one team, and that support has been very clear.”

Christian Horner commented about the likelihood of the upcoming testing in Bahrain, focusing minds at Red Bull.

“I think it’s what we do; that’s why we’re here.,” he added. “This team is a big team; it’s one of the biggest sporting teams in the world, and what has always been one of our strengths is the way that we work.

“We’ve had tremendous stability; we have very low turnover of staff; we’ve had huge continuity over the years. People work here because they love working here, they like working here, and they share a passion for going racing and fighting against some fierce competitors.”