Method One boss Christian Horner final night time confronted recent allegations that he tried to pay £650,000 (AUD$1.25 million) in money to a feminine worker who obtained “sexually suggestive” texts.
The 50-year-old Pink Bull Racing boss – and husband of Spice Lady Geri Halliwell – has reportedly been investigated for alleged “controlling” habits at work.
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However a Dutch newspaper, which claims to have seen the reviews on the coronary heart of the investigation, says they have been “sexually oriented”.
The shock claims final night time added to the ache of pop star Geri, 51, who was stated to have been 'in floods of tears' when the scandal first broke.
Sprightly former racing driver Horner – who leads world champion Max Verstappen's workforce to victory over Pink Bull – endured an eight-hour grilling final week. He denies any wrongdoing.
Pink Bull's Austrian mother or father firm has flown an impartial lawyer to the UK to query each the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
Group boss Horner has denied all allegations in opposition to him and was current on the Pink Bull RB20 2024 launch on Thursday.
Neither he nor the girl have been suspended and continued to work amongst 1,500 employees at Pink Bull Racing's sprawling hi-tech campus in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
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Nonetheless, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly despatched sexual messages to a feminine worker “over an prolonged time frame”.
The reviews have been reportedly saved and introduced as proof to an out of doors lawyer main the investigation after the girl complained final December.
De Telegraaf additionally claimed that Horner's attorneys tried to settle the case with a $1.25 million cost – and that senior Pink Bull administration knew about his supply.
Horner spoke publicly in regards to the allegations in opposition to him for the primary time on the launch of the RB20 this week.
“Inevitably there have been distractions however the workforce could be very a lot collectively,” he stated.
“Everybody was centered on the season forward so it was enterprise as typical and the assist was unbelievable.
“In conditions like these, you see the place the strengths are and it was great assist I had from inside the workforce.
“The riders have been unbelievably good, the companions, it was unbelievable.
“Quite a lot of allegations have been made which I absolutely deny, so the investigation could be very a lot within the background in preparation for the upcoming season and can hopefully be concluded within the close to future.”
F1 Insiders stated after Horner was grilled final week that he was “not anticipated to outlive in his position” at Pink Bull.
However one other supply informed The Solar: “Christian has not been sacked or requested to resign and he has no intention of resigning.
Pink Bull Racing declined to remark final night time and the drinks agency's Austrian mother or father firm didn’t reply to inquiries in regards to the Dutch paper's report.
It comes after it was introduced that Geri has a robust group of associates to show to for assist, together with her former bandmate Victoria Beckham.
An in depth supply stated earlier this month: “Geri was in floods of tears all weekend taking care of her youngsters.
“He insists that Christian did nothing improper.
Geri is alleged to have leaned closely on former teammate Victoria (49).
The 2 have been shut since their Spice Women days, with a supply telling OK!: “They at all times bought on nicely and have been there for one another when occasions have been robust.
“When Geri had a little bit of a tumultuous relationship with a few of the different Spice Women, Victoria supported her and helped her by means of.
“Now it's the identical – Victoria needs to assist Geri in any means she will.
It helps that they reside close by – they each have luxurious household properties within the Cotswolds.
Geri was additionally a pillar of assist for Victoria when her husband David was accused of an affair in 2003.
She was additionally lowered to tears when David obtained a crimson card through the 1998 World Cup – which the footballer described because the “hardest interval” of his profession.
The insider added: “Victoria and David had actually weak factors collectively as a pair and Geri was there for her.
“She's by no means forgotten how good Geri was with… her horrible remedy of David after the World Cup.
“Now she is aware of it's her time to be there for Geri and she or he needs to deal with her and assist her.
This text initially appeared on The Solar and has been reproduced with permission.
