Christian Horner denies allegations of misconduct after trove of leaked nudes and illicit texts emerge just 36 hours before F1’s opening race

The 79 files, which were examined by Fortuneconsisted mainly of screenshots of supposed WhatsApp message exchanges that seem in between Horner and another individual. The messages consist of photos of meals and treats, naked images of an unknown guy, suggestive exchanges, and what seem photos of Horner in several various attires, consisting of a coat and pageboy cap.

In one exchange, the sender informs the text recipient that they can work from home after leaving their laptop computer at the factory. In another, the sender and the other celebration appear to keep conference prepares a trick from somebody called “Geri.” Horner’s other half is previous Spice Girl Geri Halliwell. There are several messages asking the text recipient to erase their WhatsApp messaging history, along with a text from the other celebration asking the sender to “stop” after they sent out messages that appear to have actually been later on erased.

Fortune has actually not confirmed the credibility of the files; neither has ESPN nor the AP, which formerly reported on the chest of messages and images sent out from a generic e-mail account. Horner rejected improper habits once again after the declared messages dripped.

“I will not talk about confidential speculation, however to restate, I have actually constantly rejected the accusations,” Horner stated in a declaration checked out to reporters by a group spokesperson, by means of AP. “I appreciated the stability of the independent examination and totally complied with it every action of the method. It was an extensive and reasonable examination performed by an independent professional lawyer and it has actually concluded, dismissing the problem made. I stay completely concentrated on the start of the season.”

Red Bull Racing did not react to Fortune‘s ask for remark.

Red Bull released an internal examination on Feb. 5 after Dutch paper de Telegraaf reported claims of”unsuitable habitsversus Horner, who turned down the claims. Horner was cleared of misbehavior, and the complaints by a female worker were dismissed.

F1 and Red Bull Racing have a history of disregarding to unsuitable and even violent habits from huge names in the sport. Previous F1 motorist Jos Verstappen– daddy to ruling champ Max Verstappen– was founded guilty of attack in 2000 after fracturing a victim’s skull in 1998. He raced in F1 from 1994 to 2003 and makes regular looks in the Red Bull garage throughout race weekends. Over a years later on, previous motorist Adrian Sutil was founded guilty in 2012 of triggering severe physical damage, and though he did not have a race seat for that season, he went back to the sport and drove for Force India the next year.

The files were launched when Horner was participating in a practice occasion for F1’s very first race of 2024, which is slated to start less than 36 hours from time of publishing. The occasion drew over 1.3 million audiences in 2023, part of the surge of the sport’s appeal in the U.S. in the last few years. F1 has a business worth of $18.6 billion, consisting of financial obligation, according to SporticoIts development remains in part thanks to Netflix’s hit docuseries Drive to Survivein which Horner is a protagonist. Red Bull is thought about the benchmark group this season after winning definitive back-to-back group champions. Star chauffeur Verstappen has actually won 3 successive chauffeurs’ champions in a row for the group.

Horner played a crucial function in Red Bull’s success and has helmed the group given that its 2005 creation, when the energy beverage business purchased the group from Jaguar as part of its quote to construct a sporting empire— and eventually produce beverage sales. In its very first 10 years in F1, Red Bull invested $1.2 billion in its eponymous group, which is now valued at $2.6 billion and had actually an approximated 2023 profits of $510 million, according to ForbesHorner is the longest-tenured group principal in the F1 paddock.

Red Bull has won 6 fabricator’s titles, 7 motorists’ titles, and over 100 grands prix. It even more extended its grasp in F1 in 2005 when it purchased a junior varsity, now called Visa CashApp RB, which produced an extra $260 million in income in 2023. The group likewise owes its honors in part to Global Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey, who led the style efforts for all of Red Bull’s championship-winning cars and trucks. Per Sports IllustratedNewey and Horner have a shared security stipulation in their particular agreements, linking their fates must one leave the group.

The group’s success in F1 has, in the business’s own words, made its marketing gamble settle. In November, Horner stated Red Bull Racing’s success associated to energy beverage sales, calling the group the “the greatest marketing effect that the drink business has.” The beverage has 13% of the energy beverage market share worldwide.

“They see it, they can determine it. It’s unbelievable the quantity of usage of Red Bull that is occurring,” Horner informed CNBC