Team boss accused of $1.25m cover-up amid F1 crisis

Christian Horner reportedly tried to cover up allegations of inappropriate behaviour by making a $1.25 million hush offer to the employee.

The long-standing Red Bull team principal continues to staunchly deny the allegations, which until now had been surrounding Horner's aggressive management style.

But Dutch publication De Telegraaf, which broke the original story, is now claiming to have seen WhatsApp messages between Horner and the employee sent over a considerable period of time that are of a sexual nature.

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The publication claims the messages were presented to the external barrister conducting the investigation, and were first reported to the company in December 2023.

The 50-year-old Horner has not been stood down from his position, which he has held since Red Bull entered F1 in 2005.

He was in attendance at the team's car launch this week, where he addressed the allegations for the first time and maintained it was "business as usual" at the team's Milton Keynes base.

Meanwhile, executives at Ford – who will enter F1 as Red Bull's engine suppliers from 2026 – are monitoring the situation.

"As a family company, and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behaviour and integrity, we do expect the same from our partners," global head of Ford Performance Motorsport Mark Rushbrook said at Daytona, where Ford will be heavily represented in Monday morning's (AEDT) Daytona 500.

"It appears to us, and what we've been told, was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course, they're worried about their brand, as well.

"And that's why they've got an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of that, it's too early for us to comment on it all."

Horner has guided the team to six constructors' championships and seven drivers' championships during his time at the top. Max Verstappen has won the drivers' title in each of the last three seasons. The team won all but one of the 22 races last year.

Horner is married to Geri Halliwell, better known as Ginger Spice of the female pop group The Spice Girls.

F1 pre-season testing will get underway in Bahrain this week, before the season-opening Grand Prix at the same venue on March 2.

– With AP