Christian Horner and the Red Bull saga that refuses to go away
'Too dizzy-making' even for the 'merry-go-round world of F1'
The embattled boss of the Red Bull Formula 1 team is facing fresh calls to stand down, despite being cleared of inappropriate conduct towards a female employee.
Christian Horner was exonerated by an independent Red Bull investigation last week, but WhatsApp messages and images that he allegedly exchanged with his accuser were then leaked to the press. The messages, emailed from an anonymous account, were also sent to key F1 figures including FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the nine other team principals.
Horner has refused to say if the leaked messages are genuine and his legal team has threatened to take action against anyone who publishes them.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
With his Red Bull team dominating Saturday's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, and his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, offering her full public support, Horner "might have hoped to have turned the corner", said The Telegraph. But then the father of his star driver Max Verstappen made an explosive statement.
'Danger of being torn apart'
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jos Verstappen said there would be "tension" at Red Bull while Horner remains in his position. "The team is in danger of being torn apart," the 51-year-old former racing driver said. "It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim when he is the one causing the problems."
Horner and Red Bull were said to have been "stunned" by his comments, "which appeared to suggest Horner's position was untenable", said The Times. Insiders told the paper that the two men had engaged in a series of discussions over the weekend, one of which was "particularly heated".
Horner has insisted that he is "absolutely" confident that he will remain in his role for the season. "There was a full, lengthy internal process that was completed by an independent KC," he said after the Bahrain GP. "And the grievance that was raised was dismissed. End of. Move on."
What next for Horner?
Jos Verstappen's intervention is "potentially significant", because his son, whom he also manages, "wields major influence within Red Bull as a result of his success on the track", said the BBC. The world champion gave only qualified support when asked multiple times in the lead-up to the Bahrain GP whether he had full faith and confidence in Horner.
"Intrigue remained on how much of an input his son had on Jos' astonishing comments and where he stood as two key figures in his life are at odds," said the Daily Express.
Max Verstappen, who is due to appear before the media in Jeddah on Wednesday, has reportedly been asked by Ben Sulayem, the president of F1's governing body the FIA, to back Horner publicly. But the driver is, for now at least, "seemingly staying out of any potential feud", said the paper.
In a "further blow" to Red Bull, said the Daily Mail, Jos Verstappen was seen on Saturday conversing with Toto Wolff, boss of rivals Mercedes, "a sign that a possible move could be being considered". Wolff needs a new driver for next season, after Lewis Hamilton announced his defection to Ferrari, and has been "among fierce critics of Red Bull's parent company's handling of the investigation".
This matters because Max Verstappen is, "apart from the car", Red Bull's "most valuable asset", said The Telegraph.
Horner's fate will ultimately rest with Red Bull's owners. Chalerm Yoovidhya, part of the Thai dynasty that owns 51% of Red Bull GmbH, posed for pictures with Horner on the grid in Bahrain in a very public "show of unity", said The Times, and is "seen as a key ally for Horner".
But Mark Mateschitz, the Austrian billionaire who owns the other 49% of the drinks company, is "understood to be more concerned about the impact of the episode which has engulfed Formula One".
"Even by the merry-go-round world of F1," said the paper, "this is all too dizzy-making."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Cicada-geddon: the fungus that controls insects like 'zombies'
Under The Radar Expert says bugs will develop 'hypersexualisation' despite their genitals falling off
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Scottie Scheffler: victory for the 'pre-eminent golfer of this era'
Why Everyone's Talking About Masters victory is Scheffler's second in three years
By The Week Staff Published
-
The England kit: a furore over the flag
Why everyone's talking about Nike's redesign of the St George's Cross on the collar of the English national team's shirt has caused controversy
By The Week UK Published
-
'Drunken hooligans': America's cricket fears
Why Everyone's Talking About South Asian community 'energised' by sport's growing popularity in US but some locals oppose new stadiums
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Parkrun records row
Why everyone's talking about Weekly fun run deletes historic comparative data from website amid row over trans participants
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Luke Littler: teenage 'viral sensation' takes darts world by storm
Why everyone's talking about The 16-year-old Brit is youngest-ever World Championship finalist and will battle for Sid Waddell trophy tonight
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The European Super League: a 90th-minute reprieve?
Why everyone's talking about A European court ruling has potentially breathed new life into the breakaway football league
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
Max Verstappen: F1’s record-breaking world champion
Why Everyone’s Talking About Red Bull star has surpassed records set by Schumacher, Vettel and Hamilton
By Mike Starling Published
-
F1 ‘silly season’ hits top speed as 2023 grid takes shape
Under the Radar Twitter explodes with news of driver moves, denials and rumours
By Mike Starling Published