Key hours for the Red Bull boss: what his ex-Spice Girl wife will do after the harassment complaint and the photos that would compromise him

Red Bull the date of the hearing for the investigation into the alleged “inappropriate behavior” of the executive director of the Formula 1 team has been set, Christian Hornerwith a female team member. On Friday 9 February the investigators will analyze the evidence and listen to the parties involved. evaluate whether the complaint can be confirmed or, on the contrary, rejected.

If they believe Horner acted in accordance with the complaint, the energy drink brand that sponsors the team could remove him from office leading the team, the very year he will begin his twentieth season.

In her complaint, an employee alleged that the former pilot had sent her photos of his genitals and others in which he could be seen naked. For now, Red Bull has granted Horner the presumption of innocence and has not removed him from office, but that could change on Friday when a hearing takes place in the UK between those involved.

The British, however, denied the accusations It is not known what his defense strategy will be. when answering researchers’ questions. “I completely deny these claims,” ​​Horner told the MailOnline portal, also calling his accusation “insane”.

In the event that Horner is fired – or invited to step aside – the candidate to succeed him, at least on an interim basis, is the mechanic Jonathan Wheatley who is also the team’s sporting director and was one of the key figures in winning the 2021 World Cup in Abu Dhabi.

Horner was hired to run Red Bull in 2004, when the energy drink company purchased the Jaguar team. Since then he has been team leader and has won six constructors’ championships: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2022 and 2023.

Guilty or victim of an internal problem?

Following the death in October 2022 of Dietrich Mateschitzfounder of Red Bull and Horner’s protector, some rumors suggest that the accusations have no real basis and could be part of a strategy to remove him from command and point to a tense confrontation in which he was the protagonist last season with the executive advisor of company.team, Helmut Marko.

In that conflict, team star Max Verstappen openly expressed his support for Marko and exposed an internal power struggle in the team.

Horner’s future within the structure appears to depend on Red Bull’s major shareholder, Chalerm Yoovidhyawhich owns 51% of the stake and has maintained confidence in its CEO, at least until the tests were confirmed.

In the next few days also his wife Geri Halliwell -former leader of space girls– will give her his unconditional support despite, according to the British newspaper Daily Mail, “she is devastated” by the accusations.

In this context, Red Bull must be quick: the new season will begin on March 2 with the Bahrain Grand Prix and in just over a week, on February 15, the team will present the RB20the new car with which he will try to make people talk only about what happens on the track.