- Christian Horner’s accuser ‘is appealing’ the decision to clear the F1 boss
- The Red Bull principal was cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’
- She has also reportedly lodged a complaint with governing body the FIA
The woman who accused Red Bull team principal Christian Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ is reportedly ‘angry and upset’ that she was never shown the full dossier which led to him being cleared of any wrongdoing.
She originally accused team boss Christian Horner of ‘coercive behaviour’ but an internal inquiry involving a KC cleared him last month and he has remained in charge for the opening two races of the season.
Messages purporting to be her exchanges with Horner, the 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, were leaked the day after the inquiry exonerated him.
Mail Sport revealed on Friday that the woman at the centre of the ‘sex-text’ scandal – who has since been suspended on full pay – had launched an appeal against Red Bull’s findings.
It has now been reported by The Sun that she had lodged a complaint against him with the FIA, and is also unhappy that she has not been able to see the full report.
A source of the Sun is claimed to have said: ‘She has not been allowed to see the whole of the report which cleared Horner and has no clarity as to why the inquiry reached its decision. A timetable for her appeal process is being drawn up.’
It’s added that Horner also did not see the full dossier, while Red Bull were unaware of any complaint to the FIA.
The woman, who has been suspended on full pay, has recently changed lawyers – a precursor to her latest legal move.
The suggestive WhatsApp correspondence was sent from an anonymous email address to 149 figures in Formula One.
Halliwell has showed support to her husband despite the ongoing saga, appearing nest to him during the opening two races of the season.
The female employee, it is believed, insists she was not the source of the explosive evidence. And someone close to her says she feels ‘let down’ by Red Bull and she has ‘behaved properly during the process.’
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.’
Jos Verstappen, father of world champion Max Verstappen, who is a known Horner critic, also denies leaking the information.
However, the father of Red Bull star Max, exclusively told Mail Sport that Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner didn’t leave the team – during the weekend of the season opener in Bahrain.
Three-time world champion, Max, 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.
Earlier this week, Red Bull denied claims that Horner would be sacked before Formula One’s next Grand Prix in Australia on March 24.
Horner said before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix that it was time to ‘draw a line’ under the saga.
The 50-year-old added: ‘A grievance was raised, fully investigated and it was dismissed. We move onwards.’
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
