But is everything different?

Revealed: Horner chats leaked to colleague

Christian Horner

(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Mark Thompson)

At the Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain on Thursday, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner reacted with relief to the dismissed complaint following allegations of inappropriate behavior. But it seems to be just the calm before the storm. Because now explosive chat messages are said to have been emailed from an anonymous account to journalists, team bosses and Formula 1 bosses. 

According to English media reports, these are the very text messages that Horner allegedly sent to the colleague who lodged the complaint. They were sent from a secret account to several journalists, but also to F1 competitors. They are said to include a number of shocking texts. And this after Horner had just been cleared of sexually inappropriate behavior by Red Bull.

Geri and Christian Horner

(Bild: www.PPS.at)

"Anonymous speculation"
A few hours after the leak, the RB team boss also spoke out. "I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but I would like to reiterate that I have always denied the allegations. I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and cooperated fully with it every step of the way. It was a thorough and fair investigation, conducted by an independent specialist lawyer, which resulted in the complaint being dismissed. I remain fully focused on the start of the season," said Horner.

Christian Horner

(Bild: APA/AFP/Andrej ISAKOVIC)

Red Bull announced in a statement on Wednesday that an employee's complaint against Horner had been dismissed following an independent investigation. Horner, who has been married to former Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell since 2015, denied all allegations against him and continued to lead the team during the process. Red Bull stated that the investigation report will remain confidential. The complaining party has the right to appeal, and according to British media, the employee is even considering taking legal action.

Wolff demands clarity
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, meanwhile, called for more clarity. "I believe the sport needs more transparency," said the Viennese at a press conference of the team bosses on Thursday. "As a sport, we cannot afford to leave things vague and in the dark." They and the organization, i.e. Formula 1, had a duty to look into this and say it was okay, emphasized Wolff, who had previously expressed criticism of the matter.

Christian Horner and Toto Wolff

(Bild: APA)

McLaren team boss Zak Brown agrees with Wolff's demands. Formula 1 as the commercial rights holder and the International Automobile Federation, which is responsible for compliance with the rules, must ensure that everything is transparent and that they come to the same conclusion. "The sport needs that in order to draw a line under it, otherwise it's not healthy for the sport."

Fight of his life
"Christian Horner has won the fight of his life," wrote the English newspaper Daily Mail. Horner has led the Milton Keynes-based racing team since entering the premier class of motorsport in 2005, winning seven drivers' and six constructors' titles since then. It remains to be seen whether peace will now return to the superior Formula 1 team of the past two years. According to information from Motorsport-Total.com, the Thai Red Bull shareholders are backing Horner as team principal, and the Austrian wing of the group is apparently of the clear opinion that Horner is no longer tenable in his position.