Christian Horner is exonerated – but Red Bull probe serves as reminder to all in F1

Touching down in the Middle East on Wednesday night, Horner will be one relieved man stepping off his private jet. A team principal and chief executive who has barely missed a race since taking the reins at the inception of his Red Bull team in 2005, the 50-year-old will take his usual place on the pit wall at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend as a manexonerated.

Thestatementon Wednesday afternoon from Red Bull GmbH – the parent company, based in Salzburg, of Horner’s Red Bull Racing – was unwavering. It spoke of an investigation, outsourced to an external KC, which was “fair, rigorous and impartial” and a “grievance” which has now been dismissed.

Indeed, the final document sent to Red Bull HQ over the weekend was said to have contained more than 100 pages. Horner himself was interviewed for 10 hours at a secret location in London on 9 February. The matter has dragged on and on, through Red Bull’s high-pitchedcar launchin Milton Keynes and pre-season testing last week.

At times, Horner has seemed weary, consistently maintaining face and insisting “business as usual” despite the thunderstorm that has rocked his role in a sport he holds so dear to his heart. He will want to move on – and so will his world championship-winning team, the undisputed favourites to retain their titles with star driver Max Verstappen this year.

Internally, it seems it is case closed. But it may not completely be the end of the matter for Horner, husband to Spice Girl pop star Geri Halliwell. The female colleague who made the complaint does have the right to an appeal, which could extend the case further. Regardless, should she stay at the racing team, will a relationship between both parties need to be rebuilt? Can it be?