The woman who accused Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ and was subsequently suspended by the Formula One team, is appealing against the investigation that cleared Geri Halliwell’s husband, according to reports.
MailOnline exclusively reported on Thursday that the Red Bull employee at the centre of the ‘sex texts’ scandal surrounding Horner, had felt ‘let down’ by the team’s decision to clear the 50-year-old of any wrong doing. Mail Sport had subsequently revealed that his accusor was suspended by the team ‘because she was dishonest’.
It was announced in February that Red Bull were investigating Horner, via an independent barrister, over accusations of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards his female colleague. He was subsequently exonerated before the first race of the season in Bahrain, while his ex-Spice Girl partner, Halliwell, has continued to publicly support her husband at the opening two races of the season.
Screenshots of text conversations that were allegedly sent between the pair were leaked to the media and key figures within Formula One via an anonymous email a day after Horner was cleared of wrongdoing – throwing him back into the spotlight.
According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, the Red Bull team principal’s accusor is now ‘appealing the decision’.
The woman who accused Christian Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ is appealing the decision to clear the Red Bull team principal
Horner (pictured with his partner Geri Halliwell) had been accused of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female employee, but was subsequently cleared of wrong doing
Horner is pictured talking with Red Bull CEO Franz Watzlawick at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, after key stakeholders said that the pit boss would not be sacked before the Australian GP
The report claims that she ‘initially had five days to lodge the appeal after receiving the official paperwork following the first investigation.
The claimant has, though, ‘hired a new lawyer’, which will now give her more time to appeal the decision.
A friend of the woman had exclusively told MailOnline: ‘She is so disappointed with how it’s all gone, especially as she did everything by the book.
‘She raised her concerns in private and did everything right, but she feels very let down by the company.
‘They have suspended her when she followed the proper process diligently and correctly.’
Earlier this week, Red Bull denied claims that Horner would be sacked before Formula One’s next Grand Prix in Australia on March 24.
Reports claim shareholders from the Milton Keynes-based racing outfit met in Dubai on Sunday after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in which Max Verstappen had cruised to victory in Jeddah, his second win of the year. The stakeholders, meanwhile, were aligned in the view that Horner should stay in his role.
Horner’s wife Halliwell has continued to show support to the team principal
Reports also emerged that Helmut Marko (left) could be suspended after claims were made that he was leaking information on the ongoing situation surrounding Horner, claims he denied
‘As Christian has said, he is grateful for the full support of the shareholders and that remains the case,’ a Red Bull spokesperson said.
Three-time world champion, Verstappen, has meanwhile called for ‘peace’ at the racing team, amid the ongoing situation.
It came after he had threatened to walk away from Red Bull, if advisor Helmut Marko were to be suspended after claims were made he had been leaking information to the media.
Marko has since insisted that he will be staying at Red Bull, with the 80-year-old motorsport advisor having held talks over his future with Red Bull head of sport Oliver Mintzlaff in the Jeddah paddock.
‘I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace,’ Verstappen said.
‘And that’s what we, I think, all agree on within the team. So hopefully, from now on, that is also fully the case.
‘Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn’t hurt out performances. So it’s a very strong team.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen continue to dominate on the track despite the team’s off-track dramas
‘I think also mentally, what you can see from not only the driver’s side, but also mechanics, engineers, everyone is there to do their job.
‘And I think everyone, even when there is stuff going on or whatever, they’re just focused on their job as they should be.’
