Christian Horner will attend the Red Bull car launch in Milton Keynes on Thursday morning.
He will face questions from the media about his future as boss of the world championship-winning team amid allegations of his behavior towards an employee, but for legal reasons there will likely be limits to what he will say.
Horner is not involved in the matter and denies accusations that he acted coercively towards a female staff member.
The 50-year-old met with King’s Counsel last Friday to outline his rebuttal to the claims that have electrified Formula 1.
Red Bull had wanted the issue to be resolved before the unveiling of Max Verstappen’s new car, an event where the three-time world champion will be present.
Christian Horner will attend Red Bull’s launch of their 2024 car tomorrow (pictured with wife Geri Halliwell)
An image of the Red Bull Racing boss laughing with his team at Silverstone, where Red Bull’s new car flew around the circuit, appeared online on Tuesday
Horner denies allegations that he acted coercively towards a female staff member
Red Bull had wanted the problem resolved before the unveiling of Max Verstappen’s new car (left), an event that the three-time world champion will attend together with teammate Sergio Perez.
But the legal back-and-forth does not appear to have picked up that pace and will continue towards or beyond pre-season testing in Bahrain next week or the first race at the same venue on March 2.
Horner’s allies claim he is part of a power struggle within the organization.
His appearance at the Midlands factory will be the first time he has spoken publicly about the ordeal since the news broke a week ago on Monday.
His Spice Girl wife Geri firmly supports her husband.
That’s despite reports that she is terrified about how “things will unravel” during the investigation into her husband.
Horner attended a secret filming day at the Silverstone circuit on Tuesday, when the new Red Bull car flew around the circuit for the first time this season.
A photo on social media showed Horner laughing with colleagues during the secret test.
A source has now said this Closer: ‘It’s clear this has been a hellish time for Geri and she is in a state of absolute turmoil – trying to keep it together for the children while quietly crumbling inside.’
Geri and Christian Horner pictured together in October 2023 – source claimed she is in a ‘state of turmoil’
The couple married in May 2015, had a son together in 2017 and also both have a child from previous relationships (pictured at a film premiere in London in December)
Haliwell is reportedly feeling ‘anxious’ about the drama, but wants to support her husband in any way she can (pictured together last year during the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend)
Reports had suggested Bernie Ecclestone (right) advised Christian Horner to resign from his role at Red Bull to avoid damage to his wife Geri and his family – although he has denied this
They added: ‘She says she feels like she is in a living nightmare and is absolutely terrified of how things could unravel.’
The source claimed that Geri ultimately wants to support her husband in any way she can and is determined that this will not tear their family apart, despite feeling ‘worried’ about the drama.
Horner and Halliwell married in May 2015, with former F1 supremo Ecclestone serving as best man for the Red Bull team boss.
Reports had suggested Ecclestone had urged Horner to resign to avoid harm to wife Geri and his family, with the former Spice Girl said to be ‘devastated’ by the allegations against her husband.
However, the 93-year-old denied this in a post on Instagram on Wednesday.
She gave birth to a son in January 2017, while they both had daughters from previous relationships.
The uncertainty about Horner’s future may continue for some time after Dutch publication The Telegraph report that a final assessment of his conduct may not be published for weeks.
A spokesperson for Red Bull GmbH said on Monday: ‘After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company initiated an independent investigation.’
Red Bull was the dominant team in Formula 1 last year, winning all but one race
Verstappen and teammate Perez took the car out for a shakedown at Silverstone on Tuesday
The launch of the 2024 Red Bull car will take place at the team’s factory in Milton Keynes
They added: ‘The company takes these matters very seriously.’
Responding to the allegations, Horner said: ‘I completely deny the allegations.’
Red Bull previously said: ‘After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company initiated an independent investigation. This process is carried out by an external specialist lawyer.
‘The investigation will be completed as quickly as practicable. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Horner has fulfilled the role of team principal at Red Bull since they became their own team in 2005
Red Bull is, as things stand, the top team in Formula 1, with Verstappen winning the last three drivers’ titles, while the team has also won consecutive constructors’ championships.
Last season was the most dominant in the history of the sport, with Red Bull winning 21 of a possible 22 races.
Verstappen and Perez tested their new cars under gray skies on Tuesday, with all teams having two filming days.
Horner has fulfilled the role of team boss since Red Bull joined Formula 1 as its own team in 2005.