The controversy surrounding Christian Horner and allegations of misconduct continues to cast a shadow over Red Bull Racing as the 2025 Formula One season approaches.
Following accusations of ‘coercive and abusive’ behavior leveled against the team principal last year, a female employee within Red Bull remains with the company but is currently suspended, according to reports.
Initially cleared by an independent legal counsel and subsequently having an appeal dismissed, Horner has consistently denied the allegations. Throughout this period, he received unwavering support from his wife, Geri Halliwell, who was present at the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix amidst the intense scrutiny.
Discussions regarding a potential severance package for the employee are reportedly ongoing and could potentially involve a sum reaching seven figures. However, no agreement has been reached as of yet.
The internal turmoil within Red Bull appeared to impact their performance last season, although Max Verstappen managed to secure his fourth consecutive Formula One championship title. The team has exhibited signs of struggle since the allegations first surfaced, and speculation persists regarding Verstappen’s future with the organization.
- Verstappen’s father, Jos, publicly called for Horner’s removal a year ago.
Verstappen experienced difficulties in the opening two races of this season, held in Australia and China; however, he rebounded with a victory at the recent Japanese Grand Prix.
Despite his recent win, questions remain about whether Verstappen will remain committed to Red Bull. While Aston Martin previously expressed interest, they have since downplayed their pursuit. Mercedes, described as ‘keen pursuers’, continue to monitor the situation, though team principal Toto Wolff has stated satisfaction with their current driver lineup of George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Adding to Red Bull’s challenges are concerns about their power unit component changes. Martin Brundle recently characterized the need for replacements across all four cars as ‘ominous’, leaving them precariously close to grid penalties ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
“Not really,” Horner stated when asked if these issues were a source of concern. “It depends on how you want to cycle them because they go in and out [of the cars]. It’s not like the first one is now put on the shelf, so that will be reintroduced. It’s how they circulate them at the different events. So no alarm bells are ringing at the moment in terms of we’re going to run short of those units later in the year.”
The situation remains complex and could significantly impact Red Bull’s performance both on and off the track as the 2025 season unfolds.
