Former Red Bull chief Christian Horner’s accuser loses new job
The British woman who accused former Red Bull Formula One chief Christian Horner of sending her sexually suggestive messages has been sacked from a subsequent position in motorsport, reports BritPanorama.
Her new employer, a US-based outfit whose identity cannot be disclosed, terminated her contract after less than twelve months, citing concerns over “trust issues” and a “lack of discretion.”
The dismissal unfolded dramatically at an airport last month, where her American bosses intercepted her as she was about to board a flight to the Hungarian Grand Prix.
The woman, who likewise cannot be named, departed Red Bull last October with a reported £3 million settlement. A source told The Sun: “It was effectively hush money to make the story go away. But there is every sign that she won’t be getting a penny this time.”
The saga traces back to early 2024, when hundreds of WhatsApp messages between Horner and the employee were circulated to F1 teams and media organisations. The leaked exchanges appeared to show the 52-year-old, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, repeatedly requesting photographs and flirtatious conversation from the woman based at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes headquarters.
According to the WhatsApp dossier, the employee eventually tired of these advances. At one stage, she challenged Horner by asking how he would react if Geri were messaging someone in the same manner. He was also accused of pressuring her to erase their chat history.
Halliwell, mother of three children with Horner, reportedly learned of the devastating leak while on a flight to Bahrain. She was said to have been left in “floods of tears” but ultimately stood by her husband.
An internal investigation cleared Horner of impropriety, with a King’s Counsel subsequently upholding that verdict a second time in August 2024 after the accuser lodged an appeal. Nevertheless, Horner was removed as Red Bull team principal with immediate effect in July 2025, ending a remarkable two-decade tenure at the helm.
His departure came as the Austrian outfit’s fortunes declined sharply in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ championships. He reportedly received an £80 million severance package. The 52-year-old had initially retained his position in the immediate wake of the texting controversy, but the team’s deteriorating on-track performance ultimately sealed his fate.
Following his accuser’s latest dismissal, Horner confided to friends that he now feels “vindicated.” His most recent employer declined to comment on “personnel matters.” Under Horner’s stewardship, Red Bull amassed an extraordinary haul of eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships, spanning two distinct golden eras with Sebastian Vettel between 2009 and 2014, and during Max Verstappen’s dominant spell.
Having taken charge when the Austrian team was founded in 2005, Horner held the distinction of being the longest-serving principal in Formula One. His final grand prix at the helm was the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July 2025, where Verstappen qualified on pole but could manage only fifth after spinning in wet conditions.
That weekend also saw further friction with Jos Verstappen, with former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher recounting on the Boxengasse podcast: “There was another argument or a heated exchange, at least visually and verbally between Jos, Christian Horner, and the press officer. You could see that Jos was anything but happy with the situation.”
The elder Verstappen had repeatedly demanded Horner’s removal ever since the sexting affair erupted on the eve of the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix.
