Red Bull ‘suspend’ staff member at centre of Christian Horner ‘sexting’ scandal
Red Bull have reportedly suspended the staff member involved in the Christian Horner misconduct scandal.
Allegations of improper behaviour against the Red Bull team principle have overshadowed the start of the new Formula 1 season.
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His team managed to overcome the distraction to make light work of the first race of the campaign, with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez securing a one-two finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
It was a performance of a team that had appeared to have put the drama behind them and moved on, but the situation has only taken another twist in the days following the dominant race from the Red Bulls.
Just days after he was pictured with the team in Bahrain, Verstappen’s dad, Jos, called for Horner to be sacked, saying the ‘tension’ over the scandal could threaten to ‘tear the team apart’.
Meanwhile, it is understood Verstappen refused a request from FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to publicly back Horner in the media.
Read more on Horner drama
Two-time Formula One world champion Verstappen has since been linked with filling rival Lewis Hamilton’s soon-to-be-vacant seat at Mercedes - reports the Dutchman has refused to completely shut down.
But while things appear to be kicking off behind the scenes, Horner and wife Geri made a show of their unity despite the current crisis at Bahrain, as they arrived hand-in-hand and were pictured celebrating together after Verstappen’s dominant victory.
And, according to , the former Spice Girl has laid down some ground rules after a document of alleged text messages between Horner and a female Red Bull team member were leaked to the press.
It has been said that Geri wanted Horner to cut all ties for the woman, which he is alleged to have found impossible due to working together.
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A source told the news outlet: "It became obvious that the situation could not continue and it was decided to suspend her on full pay while internal inquiries continue.â€
Horner was last week cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal team investigation in his actions, having been accused of inappropriate behaviour by a colleague.
Christian Horner says he ‘couldn’t imagine’ working for any team but Red Bull ahead of the new Formula 1 season
But 24 hours later a an email containing 79 files on a Google Drive was anonymously leaked to a list of journalists, other team principals and F1 owners Liberty Media.
The files consisted of alleged leaked text message exchanges on WhatsApp between Horner and a woman that are of a sexual nature.
While Geri stood by her man on Saturday's race day, it’s claimed she has been left stunned by the WhatsApp leak.
It has been said that the female accuser was prevented from being involved in the team’s operations for the first race of the season in Bahrain, and has not been seen at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes HQ since the race.
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