Red Bull Racing—Formula 1’s reigning World Champions—just yesterday announced clearing Christian Horner from his misconduct allegations, after a ‘fair, rigorous, and impartial’ investigation. With the investigation’s conclusion, the Austrian Bulls saved its skin, especially Christian Horner’s, right at the death just before the opening race.
However, fast forward to a day later, Red Bull’s Christian Horner is again under the fire, as his misconduct news took a major turn.
Christian Horner’s texts with woman allegedly leaked
On Wednesday, 28th February, Red Bull dismissed Team Principal Christian Horner from the ‘serious allegations’ of ‘inappropriate behavior’ made against him. This investigation—that turned out to be a case of ‘sexual harassment’—was closed off just three days before the R1 at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
However, only a day later, dark clouds were back in the Red Bull camp, after Christian Horner’s text messages with the female employee was leaked through an anonymous email. The email, containing 79 files, as per the Daily Mail, mostly filled with WhatsApp screenshots and some ‘images’—was sent to multiple high-profile F1 individuals and media persons.
From what SportsZion understands, both Formula 1 and the FIA will now directly be involved in Christian Horner’s case, starting by double-checking the leaked messages’ authenticity.
The email was possibly sent to the F1 figures of the highest order, like FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 CEO and president Stefano Domenicali, and most probably to the other F1 Team Principals, including McLaren’s Zak Brown—who gave his hot take on this matter, even before the email leaked.
McLaren CEO claims Christian Horner speculation likely to continue
Earlier during a media session for the Bahrain GP, McLaren CEO Zak Brown weighed in on the topic, advising the FIA and F1 to ‘responsibly’ ensure that RB’s investigation of Christian Horner was ‘fully transparent’.
When asked about Christian Horner’s dismissal by RB, he stated, “I read the statement. I think, from what I’ve seen, there continues to be a lot of rumors and speculation, questions.”
“The sanctioning body [the FIA] has a responsibility and authority to our sport, and to our fans. I think all of us in Formula 1 are ambassadors for the sport, on and off the track, like you see in other sports, and so I think they need to make sure that things have been fully transparent with them.”
“I don’t know what those conversations are. They need to be thorough, and fully transparent, and that they come to the same conclusion that has been given by Red Bull and that they’ve agreed with the outcome,” said the McLaren Boss.
“But I think, until then, there’ll continue to be speculation because there are a lot of unanswered questions about the whole process.”
“That’s what’s needed by those who run the sport to really be able to draw a line under it. Until then, I think there’ll continue to be some level of speculation by people, and I don’t think that’s healthy for the sport,” he concluded.
Regardless of the leaked messages, Christian Horner will be leading Red Bull, until proven guilty, into the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix on 2nd March—whether archrival Zak Brown likes it or not.
Are the leaked texts really real or photoshopped missiles aimed at Christian Horner? Was Red Bull trying to save Christian Horner all this time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
