Red Bull’s future engine supplier Ford is keeping quiet about Christian Horner after previously speaking out following initial accusations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against the team boss.
The 50-year-old’s future at the Formula 1 team is under scrutiny after he was accused last month of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a close female associate of the Milton Keynes-based team.
Reports in the Netherlands claimed the allegations went even deeper, with Horner allegedly sending sexual messages to the woman in question.
And although Horner – the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Haillwell – was cleared of wrongdoing following an investigation into his conduct, the saga took another twist after 79 screenshots of text messages allegedly sent by the supremo surfaced online.
Hundreds of WhatsApp messages, some of which were apparently of a sexual nature, were sent via an anonymous account to 149 key Formula 1 figures, including all of Horner’s fellow team leaders. FIA President Mohammad ben Sulayem, who is in the paddock today, was also among the recipients.
Ford has refused to comment on leaked messages allegedly sent by Red Bull chief Christian Horner, as the crisis facing the F1 boss deepens
Red Bull’s future engine supplier previously spoke out about the saga after initial allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against Horner emerged
Mark Rushbrook, the global head of Ford Performance Motorsport, said the ‘family business’ expects ‘very high standards of conduct and integrity’ in response to the Horner controversy
When Mail Sport approached Ford – which will become Red Bull’s engine supplier in 2026 – regarding the leaked messages and ongoing speculation about its future, the company declined to comment.
Earlier in February, Ford had raised concerns about the allegations and warned that they expected “very high standards of conduct and integrity.”
Mark Rushbrook, global head of Ford Performance Motorsport, said at Daytona International Speedway last month: “As a family-owned business and a company held to very high standards of conduct and integrity, we expect the same from our partners.
‘It seems to us, and what we were told, was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course they are also concerned about their brand.
“And that’s why they have an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of that, it’s too early for us to comment on that.”
Horner – who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – is fighting to save his career after hundreds of messages allegedly sent to a female employee were leaked online
Horner and Halliwell in a holiday photo taken on an unknown beach at Christmas
Horner is currently in Bahrain after leaving for the start of the F1 season, where he vowed to fight on within hours of the scandal deepening. He led Red Bull’s F1 team for 19 years and to 13 world championships.
He is also fighting to save his nine-year marriage to Geri, who is said to have “had a total meltdown” over the leak.
Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali will hold a meeting to discuss the leaks, and it remains to be seen whether the governing body will launch its own investigation.
This morning, Horner spoke to a senior FOM figure in the team’s hospitality area.
“I will not comment on anonymous speculation,” Horner said in his statement Thursday after the email arrived. ‘But I repeat: I have always denied the allegations.
“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully with it every step of the way.
Horner led the Red Bull team for 19 years and to 13 world championships
‘It was a thorough and fair investigation, carried out by an independent, specialist lawyer, and the conclusion is that the complaint submitted has been dismissed.
‘I remain fully focused on the start of the season.’
The company announced its conclusion on Wednesday, 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 a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.”
Horner also changed his WhatsApp avatar yesterday. It is no longer the image that appears in the alleged exchanges with the woman in question.
Horner’s wife, former Spice Girl Halliwell, had planned to fly to the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend to publicly reunite with Horner, but those close to the former pop star have said it is now ‘highly unlikely ‘ is that she will join him .
Instead, the mother-of-two felt “humiliated” after the messages “spread so widely”, a friend added.
Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp conversations between Horner and the colleague were released via an anonymous email account.
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