According to well-placed sources, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who is facing allegations from a female employee regarding his conduct, may receive a decision on his future with the team before the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday. The decision could come from Red Bull’s parent company in Austria within the next 48 hours.
An investigation into Horner, the longest-serving principal in Formula One and husband of Geri Halliwell, has been ongoing since January but only became public knowledge on Feb. 5. The British-based team does not have control over the process.
The specific details of the allegations have not been disclosed by Red Bull or the reigning champions, but media reports suggest they involve inappropriate and controlling behavior towards a female colleague. Formula One, owned by Liberty Media, has expressed a desire for the matter to be resolved quickly and fairly.
Horner, 50, was interviewed by an independent barrister on Feb. 9, with the final report comprising around 60 hours of interviews with all parties. The report, submitted to Red Bull GmbH in Austria, is reportedly over 100 pages long, but its contents are likely to remain confidential.
Despite attending testing in Bahrain recently, Horner returned to the UK to work at the Milton Keynes factory. He is expected to travel to Bahrain on Wednesday for practice sessions on Thursday and qualifying on Friday. The Grand Prix is taking place on a Saturday to accommodate races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia before Ramadan.
At the launch of Red Bull’s RB20 car, Horner stated that he was cooperating with the investigation and denied any allegations against him. If he is indeed removed from his position, it would be a significant development for the sport.
Red Bull had a dominant season in Formula One last year, winning 21 of 22 races, with Max Verstappen leading the charge for a fourth consecutive title this season alongside teammate Sergio Perez. The team is also preparing for the new engine era in 2026 by establishing a powertrain operation in partnership with Ford.
Formula One and the governing body are keen to resolve the matter swiftly to avoid any disruption to the upcoming racing season. Horner’s future with Red Bull will be decided in the coming days, potentially impacting the team’s performance in the upcoming Grand Prix.
