Red Bull boss Christian Horner has been seen in public for the first time since denying an allegation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ made against him by a female colleague.
The husband of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell appeared smiling, upbeat and comfortable and was chatting to others as he was spotted enjoying a day out at the Point-to-Point races, Badbury Rings, in Dorset yesterday.
The photos have emerged after a defiant Horner insisted he will not be forced out of Red Bull Racing – and is the right person to lead the team into the forthcoming Formula One season.
Horner, 50, strongly denied the ‘inappropriate behaviour’ claim made against him by a female colleague and maintained it is ‘absolutely business as normal’ for the team.
Speaking at Red Bull’s car launch in Milton Keynes, he said his team colleagues are ‘tremendously supportive’ of him, and the shareholders are ‘incredibly supportive’.
Red Bull Team Principal, Christian Horner, at Badbury Rings in Dorset
Christian was spotted chatting to others at the event yesterday
The Red Bull boss seen smiling and laughing at the event in Dorset yesterday
Christian appears to be taking a photo or video at the event
The 50-year-old seen for the first time since denying the allegation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ made against him
Red Bull boss Christian Horner and his wife Geri Halliwell at the Monaco Grand Prix last May
Horner added that he had been ‘overwhelmed’ by messages of goodwill from within the sport, and also had the support of his wife, Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said: ‘Firstly I obviously deny the allegations that have been made but I’m going through a process and fully respect that process. So for me it’s business as normal, focused on the season ahead.
‘And of course it is a distraction for the team. But the team are very together, they’re very focused on the season ahead and have been tremendously supportive. So looking forward to the season ahead of us.’
Asked whether he should you step down during the investigation, Horner replied: ‘Well no, because I deny anything, any of the allegations that have been made, so for me it’s absolutely business as normal, focusing on the season ahead.’
He was also asked whether he stood by his leadership at Red Bull Racing, and said: ‘Yes, absolutely.’
The photos have emerged after a defiant Christian Horner insisted he will not be forced out of Red Bull Racing
He was spotted enjoying a day out at the Point-to-Point races, Badbury Rings, in Dorset yesterday.
Geri and Christian Horner pictured together in October 2023
Horner currently expects to be in Bahrain for the first round of Max Verstappen’s championship defence on March 2
Asked whether he was confident he retains the full backing of all the owners, he said: ‘Yes, I think we are one team. The shareholders have been incredibly supportive of the team, particularly since the sad passing of Dietrich Mateschitz.
‘And you can see just looking around the campus here, the level of investment that has been made. You know, the Powertrains coming in 2026, Red Bull Advanced Technologies, cars that we are designing on the campus here.
‘The team and the group is thriving and enjoying great support from the shareholders.’
Horner has been in charge of the F1 team for two decades, but he insisted the investigation has not forced him to ponder resigning.
Asked whether he was sure he was the right person to run the team, he said: ‘Absolutely. I’ve done it for 20 years and have no doubt about that.’
Asked whether he could guarantee that he had never ‘behaved inappropriately towards a colleague’, Horner said: ‘I deny any accusations that have been made against me.’
Finally, asked whether he was ‘innocent’, Horner said: ‘Yeah, as I say.’
During a separate interview yesterday, he also thanked his wife and other people for their backing.
Horner said: ‘I have a hugely supportive family, a very supportive wife. I have felt the support from within the business and our partners, and the support from within the industry has been overwhelming, too.’
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