An optimistic Christian Horner has spoken for the first time since his charge was dramatically suspended by Red Bull following a week of calls for him to resign as team director.
The F1 boss broke into Saudi Arabia without his wife Geri Halliwell ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix.
The female staff member accused the Red Bull team boss of ‘coercive behavior’; a claim of which he was cleared in an internal investigation conducted by the team’s parent company in Salzburg last Wednesday.
Mail Sport understands that the decision to suspend her from her duties at the Milton Keynes factory is a direct result of the investigation’s findings. The unnamed employee was still working this week.
On Thursday, Horner, the 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, faced the media and admitted the saga had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions about the woman at the center of it.
Christian Horner faced a barrage of questions on Thursday after a week of unwanted headlines
Geri Halliwell joined Horner on race day last week in a defiant show of support for her embattled husband
The couple looked in good spirits all day and shared several kisses on a successful day on track for the team
“It’s obviously been a very difficult period,” he said. ‘I am married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the control placed on your marriage.
‘I am lucky to have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife. Of course it is very difficult, it is very challenging.
“When there are children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.”
The Red Bull boss, whose team made the perfect start to their double title defense in the season opener, was keen to draw attention back to the Grand Prix on Friday.
After answering a barrage of questions on the subject, he called for seizing the “intrusion” into his private life and shifting the focus to racing.
“The invasion of my family is enough now.” He continued. ‘We have to move forward. It is now time to focus on why we are here, which is to race in Formula 1.
“There has been one thing and a lot of leakage around what is a private and confidential matter between the employees and the company.
‘Unfortunately, that leak generated a lot of attention.’
After the dramatic announcement of the suspension, a Red Bull spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on an internal employee matter.”
The investigation involved 60 hours of evidence and culminated in a 150-page report by a London QC.
She can still appeal the outcome of the investigation. The period to do this extends over five days from the time the official legal letters are served on both parties, probably on Monday or Tuesday of this week.
The Red Bull boss has so far resisted calls to resign from the position he has held since 2005
Halliwell will not be in Saudi Arabia for the second Grand Prix of the season
Horner was seen laughing with Max Verstappen in the garage on Thursday before training
Last week, ahead of the letters, Red Bull’s GmbH released a statement saying: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations against Mr Horner has been completed and Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been dismissed.
‘The complainant has the right to appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation was fair, rigorous and impartial.
‘The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who participated in the investigation. Out of respect for all involved, we will therefore make no further comment. Red Bull will continue to strive to meet the highest standards in the workplace.”
Thursday’s shock move reportedly comes after Halliwell demanded that her husband cut ties with the female colleague and wanted the woman ‘out of the picture’.
She showed a show of support for her beleaguered husband at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, with the couple kissing and cuddling in front of the cameras before Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull.
It also follows claims in The Times that the female colleague had been given until Wednesday to appeal the decision to clear Horner of controlling behaviour.
The pair have continued to work together since the scandal broke, with insiders reportedly saying the ‘status quo’ could not continue and that either the woman or Horner would have to leave.
Early on Thursday, the Red Bull team boss was spotted deep in conversation with a colleague in the Saudi capital Jeddah, as he faces increasing pressure over his position.
Horner has been publicly criticized by Jos, the father of star driver Max Verstappen, while the two rowed together last week.
While Ginger Spice may have stood by her husband this weekend in a show of solidarity, insiders said the pop star wanted the female employee “out of the picture.”
Jos Verstappen (right), Horner’s vocal opponent, will not be in Saudi Arabia this weekend
A source previously told The Sun: ‘Although she smiled for the cameras during the Grand Prix, Geri has set some strict ground rules.
‘One of these is that Christian breaks or reduces contact with the woman, but that is difficult because of her role at Red Bull.
“And she’s certainly had her say about the messages he’s sending. For obvious reasons, Geri wants to keep the female colleague – who she knew before her appointment – out of the picture as much as possible.’
The source added that Red Bull cannot fire the woman because there is no basis for doing so.
An F1 insider also told the publication that Halliwell, who shares a son, seven-year-old Monty, with Horner, had shown ‘nothing but support’ to her husband but was unlikely to feature at the Saudi Grand Prix next weekend Arabia will be because she is ‘incredibly busy’.
Horner is facing calls to step down from his role and has been accused by Verstappen’s father Jos of ‘tearing the team apart’.
Verstappen Snr, who manages his world champion son Max, told Mail Sport in Bahrain: ‘There is tension here as he stays in position.
‘The team is in danger of being torn apart. It cannot continue as it is. It will explode. He plays the victim, while he is the one causing the problems.’