Christian Horner's alleged inappropriate conduct investigation: Timeline

Red Bull Racing has been going through a tumultuous time off track in 2024. In addition to the recent departure of key figures Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, the team has also been embroiled in controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner, who was accused of misconduct.

In February 2024, allegations of misconduct against Christian Horner involving a female Red Bull colleague surfaced. Horner vehemently denied these claims, following which the matter went through several verdicts.

Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner (Image via Getty)

Notably, the King's Counsel representing the complainant dismissed the case, exonerating Horner of all charges. The alleged incident not only hampered Red Bull's reputation but also created a rift within the team.

Here's what happened throughout 2024: The Timeline

February 5: Investigation on Christian Horner

Christian Horner was accused of sending inappropriate texts to one of Red Bull's female employees. In response, Red Bull's parent company, Red Bull GmbH in Austria, initiated an independent investigation led by an external lawyer.

February 9: The Lawyer's meeting with Christian Horner

As Horner vehemently denied the allegations, he was summoned by the independent lawyer conducting the investigation. However, the grueling eight-hour meeting did not bring any immediate resolution.

February 18: F1 and the FIA released statements

The allegations against Horner damaged both Red Bull's and Formula 1's global reputations. This led to F1 (owned by Liberty Media) and the FIA releasing two separate statements, asking the team to resolve the matter as soon as possible by conducting a transparent and fair investigation.

February 28: Red Bull cleared Christian Horner

After three weeks of internal investigation, Red Bull cleared Horner of any wrongdoing. They stated that the investigation was impartial, rigorous, and fair. They also allowed the complainant to move forward with legal proceedings.

February 29: WhatsApp chat leaked

Just a day after Red Bull cleared Horner, the Red Bull boss's intimate chats with the female employee came out in public. Screenshots of their chats were sent to the top F1 brass and members of the media by an anonymous source.

March 7: Complainant was suspended

Almost a week after Red Bull completed the investigation and cleared Horner, they suspended the female employee.

March 16: Ousted employee lodged an appeal

The employee subsequently appealed the findings of Red Bull's investigation to a higher authority. It's clear the complainant, who was subsequently terminated, disagreed with the outcome of the internal investigation.

August 8: Verdict released, Horner found not guilty

Five months after the complainant reached out to a higher authority, they once again put the verdict in favor of the Red Bull boss. As of August 8, the King's Counsel cleared Horner of any wrongdoings.