Christian Horner under attack at Red Bull after being cleared of inappropriate behaviour

News of the allegations emerged in early February when an investigation, carried out by a barrister, was underway. It continued during pre-season testing where Horner — who had already been interviewed — remained in his role at the head of the team.

Red Bull’s future engine partner Ford publicly pushed for a rapid resolution and the decision was announced just before the Bahrain Grand Prix. In a statement, Red Bull GmbH, the parent company of the Red Bull Racing team, announced that the complaints had been dismissed; that the inquiry had been “fair, rigorous and impartial”; and that the complainant has a right of appeal.

The fallout continued in the run-up to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, with Horner meeting Verstappen’s manager, following meetings with both FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali over the Bahrain GP weekend to discuss the matter.

Other team managers have also called for more information, given the efforts being made by F1 and teams to make the paddock less hostile to female staff. “As a sport, we can’t afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this,” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. “It’s going to catch us out.”

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said that the matter should be investigated by the FIA. “The sanctioning body has a responsibility and authority to our sport and fans,” he said. “They need to make sure that things have been fully transparent with them, that they come to the same conclusion that has been given by Red Bull and they they agree with the outcome. Until then, there will continue to be speculation because there are a lot of unanswered questions about the whole process.”

Horner, who has led the team from its inception in 2005, since when it has won six constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles, put on a display of solidarity in Bahrain, marching through the paddock with his wife, Geri Halliwell, but the tension was far from behind the scenes, as a video of emerged of him apparently arguing with Jos Verstappen.

At the next race weekend in Saudi Arabia, more controversy ensured when it emerged that Helmut Marko was possibly under investigation in relation to the leaked WhatsApp messages – suggested he may have been involved.

He then appeared to confirm this in an interview.

“I’ll put it this way, it’s difficult to judge, or let’s put it this way, ultimately, I’ll decide for myself what I do,” he said. “The theoretical possibility [of being suspended] always exists.”

Tensions heightened when Max Verstappen was questioned on the matter, who laid down a clear marker as to where his allegiances lie.

“If such an important pillar falls away, that’s not good for my situation as well,” said the Dutchman.

“My loyalty to [Marko] is very big. I’ve always expressed this to everyone within the team, everyone high up, that he’s an important part in my decision-making for all the time in the future as well within the team.”

“It was very impressive. I am very grateful to him for that,” said Marko in response. “But he is one of the few who has strength of character and shows loyalty.”

However the possibility of Marko being suspended now appears to have abated, after talks with Red Bull’s Austrian CEO Oliver Mintzlaff, which runs the brand along with a Thai contingent.

“We agreed on all points,” confirmed Marko. “I will continue here. My contract still has three years to run.”

It was then also reported during the Saudi weekend that the female employee in the investigation had been suspended in the wake of the investigation – but also that they still had to the right to appeal its dismissal of the grievances brought forward.

The divergence between the Austrian and Thai sides of the operation appear key in this grand prix power struggle, with many believing it illustrates a wider battle for supremacy in the energy drinks company.

While Red Bull GmbH in Austria appear to want Horner out, the Thai side has displayed its full support for the man who has been team principal for the entirety of the squad’s existence.

Yoovidhya, who holds a 51% share in Red Bull, was present in Bahrain in a public show of support for Horner.

Chalerm’s father, Chaleo, founded the brand with Dietrich Mateschitz in 1984.

Since Mateschitz’s death in 2022, a fissure appears to have appeared between the Thai majority owners and Austrian minority shareholders.

It’s thought the Austrian side of the business feel Horner is too expensive and too powerful for its liking and want him removed, but the Thai elect is loyal – Chalerm is a known presence at Grand Prix weekend’s, having attended Qatar last year to see Verstappen clinch the title.

However, Mintzlaff was present in Saudi and met separately with both Horner and Marko in a move which appeared to be designed to calm the disagreements. The CEO said he was content with the current management structure.

Following Marko confirmation of him staying, onlookers now await to see if the female employee will appeal following her own suspension. Will the controversy abate any time soon?

---

What was Christian Horner accused of?

Red Bull never confirmed the accusations made against its team boss, but Motor Sport understands, from various sources, that the claims related to allegations of inappropriate and controlling behaviour.

The complainant is a team employee, hence Red Bull’s decision to look into the matter, with the investigation led by an external lawyer.

Horner denied the allegations in full since they first became public on February 5 2024 after a report emerged in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. He was interviewed four days later by the external lawyer heading the investigation.

 

What is controlling behaviour?

According to the Home Office’s official statutory guidance framework, controlling or coercive behaviour is a “intentional pattern of conduct” in which perpetrators will “use various means to hurt, humiliate, intimidate, exploit, isolate and dominate their victims.”

There are many different behaviours which fall under this conduct, including: physical and sexual violence/abuse, violent behaviour, emotional or psychological abuse, controlling behaviours, restrictive behaviours and threatening behaviours.

 

Could Christian Horner have been fired?

Allegations of inappropriate behaviour can include serious wrongdoing, which would usually result in dismissal if proven. However, the full details of this case are not known and the conclusion of the investigation cleared Horner of all accusations.

 

What has changed at Red Bull?

While personal friendships with Adrian Newey, Helmut Marko and Jos Verstappen (father of Max) were said to be under strain following news of the investigation, Horner has long been reported to be involved in a “power struggle” in wider Red Bull company, which has been  simmering since the death of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.

Instead of a single figurehead, the company is currently controlled by a board of directors including Franz Watzlawick (CEO), Alexander Kirchmayr (CFO) and Oliver Mintzlaff. The latter, who heads Red Bull’s corporate projects and investments department, is rumoured to be Horner’s greatest opposer.

However, Horner is said to have the support of the Thais on the main board, composed of Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, sons of the Red Bull’s co-founders Chaleo and Dietrich.

Within the team, there is understood to be a division that includes Helmut Marko and the Verstappen family allied against Horner, although this has been denied by Horner.

Just before the results of the investigation were made public, Max spoke of the “importance” of his team principal and the effect should he leave the team, but stopped short of backing him entirely.

“I think he’s very important [to the team],” said the Dutchman in a pre-Bahrain GP press conference. “But let’s say if your team boss disappears for whatever reason for one or two races, not much is going to happen because everyone is in their role, and they know what they have to do in the short term. Over time, then of course things will start to be different. But we are not thinking like that.

“Like I said before, we just trust the process that we are in as a team to see what the outcome will be. Besides that, everyone is just very focused on the performance here at the track and everyone is just excited to get going.”