RED BULL Racing has been forced to respond to shocking claims that they have replaced tactics and are sacking Christian Horner.
Reports over the weekend indicated that shareholders were firing the Formula 1 boss after his embarrassing sexting scandal.
What for Horner was a private controversy has turned in recent weeks into a struggle of forces within Red Bull.
Media outlets such as Bild and F1-Insider reported that Red Bull’s largest Thai shareholder may have changed its mind about Horner’s stay.
Erik van Haren, the journalist who broke the story, reported that a spokesperson for the race camp forced a reaction and quelled rumors of gunfire following the explosive allegations.
They said, “As Christian said, he’s grateful for the shareholder union and that’s still the case. “
The shareholder in question, Chalerm Yoodivhya, has been best friends with Horner, 50, through weeks of embarrassing revelations following allegations from a colleague.
But the Thai businessman, who owns 51% of Red Bull, met with his partners on Sunday to likely discuss next steps, the Telegraph reports.
And F1 Insider said other prestigious Red Bull names, including Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff, are expected to take a look back at their long career ahead of the Australian Grand Prix on March 24.
Although Horner was cleared of initial allegations of controlling behaviour by his colleague on February 28, the unrest within the company did not end there.
Just 24 hours later, a folder containing embarrassing and crappy text messages from the father of two was leaked.
The intimate messages raised questions about Red Bull’s investigation and highlighted the appearance of his wife Geri Halliwell in Bahrain a few days later.
While the pair have publicly, if awkwardly, shown their support for F1’s opening, reports suggest the scenes are difficult.
The former Spice Girl, 51, reportedly imposed the law over her long-term habit and demanded that she cut off all contact with the woman.
She was then suspended from Red Bull.
Tensions within the team itself have also been developing for weeks.
The biggest gap came between Horner and the father of his star driver, Max Verstappen’s father, Jos.
Jos, 52, subsidised Horner’s accuser and called for £8 million a year to be cut for Horner, accusing the boss of tearing the team apart.
FEBRUARY 5: A Dutch newspaper reports that a Red Bull employee has made serious allegations of “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards Horner to parent company Red Bull GmbH.
FEB. 9 – Horner spends nine hours with the lawyer hired through Red Bull to investigate.
FEB. 15: Denies the allegations and says they are a distraction to the team.
FEBRUARY 15 – F1 hopes the matter will be clarified as soon as possible after a fair and thorough process.
FEB. 26 – Ford, Red Bull’s engine partner, says he is frustrated with the way the team has dealt with the complaint.
FEBRUARY 28: Horner is acquitted of any wrongdoing. The worker has the right to appeal.
FEB. 29: Horner says he’s glad the investigation is over.
FEBRUARY 29: Text messages and WhatsApp photographs allegedly between Horner and the worker are sent to the bloodhounds and F1.
MARCH 1: Horner refuses to comment on what he calls “anonymous hypotheses from unknown sources. “
MARCH 2 – Horner and his wife Geri are pictured holding hands as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner said before the race: “It’s been very difficult for my circle of family, but we’re very strong and we’re focused on this race.
MARCH 3: Jos, Verstappen’s father, says Red Bull “risks being torn apart” if Horner remains in charge. He denies being the WhatsApp leak and says: “It can’t go on like this. It’s happening to explode. He plays the victim, when he is the one who reasons the problems.
MARCH 6: Max Verstappen with his father in line.
MARCH 7: Horner says he needs to end the scandal and welcomes Geri’s, as Red Bull suspends the employee.
A source told The Sun at the weekend: “Christian’s enemies are making it clear that they possibly won’t give up.
“But he and Geri are still there and will fight them.
“Christian will return to work at Red Bull headquarters early on Monday to run his team and win races.
And on Saturday at Saudi races, Horner hugged and shared a joke with Red Bull CEO Franz Watzlawick on the grid before the race, as the two sides tried to end their recent feud.
Even Helmut Marko, the French-Austrian who works as a motorsport adviser at Red Bull and who had obviously aligned himself with Horner’s rival Jos Verstappen, called for calm, just 24 hours after hinting he could be suspended.
Horner praised his wife for her “phenomenal solidarity” but insisted it was time to “draw a line” on the scandal.
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