Dad of Woman at Centre of Christian Horner Texting Scandal Reacts to Red Bull Sacking

Christian Horner's sacking as Red Bull Racing team principal may influence betting on upcoming races, as the leadership change could impact team performance and dynamics. With Laurent Mekies set to take over, punters might consider betting against Red Bull in the near future, as the team adjusts to new management amid ongoing controversies.

Christian Horner has been sacked as Red Bull Racing team principal, bringing an end to a 20-year tenure that helped shape the team into a Formula One dynasty. His departure comes just over a year after the controversy surrounding alleged inappropriate messages sent to a female colleague, with pressure mounting both on and off the track.

The controversy began when the employee filed a formal complaint with Red Bull’s HR department, which led to an independent investigation and nine hours of questioning. Horner was eventually cleared, but the situation escalated when 79 screenshots of alleged WhatsApp messages were leaked to senior figures across Formula One, prompting widespread backlash.

Although Horner consistently denied any wrongdoing and was twice cleared of coercive behaviour accusations, the impact on the team was immediate and long-lasting. The messages were widely criticised by fans, described as “sleazy” and “humiliating,” with many expressing sympathies for Horner’s wife, Geri Halliwell, with reports stating that she was furious after learning about the messages as she travelled to Bahrain for the opening race of the 2024 season.

Shortly after the news of Horner’s sacking broke, the father of the woman at the centre of the allegations spoke publicly for the first time. He welcomed the decision to remove Horner from his position, telling MailOnline: “I've read the news and the right thing has happened. It's been all over the news and people know what took place.”

He went on to confirm that his daughter no longer works for Red Bull, but didn’t give further details on whether she still works in Formula One. “You’ll have to find out for yourself,” he added. “I don’t want to go into details, but she’s not involved with them (Red Bull).”

Fractured Relationships at Red Bull Red Bull began to unravel internally as the scandal developed. The relationship between Horner and Max Verstappen deteriorated over time, with Verstappen’s father, Jos, publicly warning that the team risked being torn apart if Horner stayed. That tension is believed to have resurfaced at last weekend’s British Grand Prix, where Verstappen finished fifth.

Max Verstappen's 2025 results so far (as of 10/07/25) Grand Prix Position Points scored Australian GP 2nd 18 Chinese GP 4th 12 Japanese GP 1st 25 Bahrain GP 6th 8 Saudi Arabian GP 2nd 18 Miami GP 4th 12 Emilia-Romagna GP 1st 25 Monaco GP 4th 12 Spanish GP 10th 1 Canadian GP 2nd 18 Austrian GP DNF 0 British GP 5th 10

Since the complaint was made public, Red Bull has lost key members of staff and seen a decline in performance. Despite Verstappen winning a fourth consecutive Drivers' Championship last season, Red Bull were beaten to the Constructors’ Championship by McLaren. This season, the gap has widened significantly, with Red Bull fourth in the Constructors' Championship on 172 points, with Verstappen claiming 165 of those alone.

Horner had reportedly retained his role thanks to backing from Red Bull’s Thai majority owners. However, the ongoing pressure, combined with poor results on the track, meant his position became too difficult to defend. Red Bull has now confirmed that Laurent Mekies will take over as CEO of Red Bull Racing. Alan Permane, the team’s racing director, will step into the role of team principal at Racing Bulls, the role Mekies left to replace Horner.

Christian Horner first joined Red Bull in 2005 and oversaw eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ Championships during his time in charge. Despite those achievements, his exit will now be remembered as the conclusion to a turbulent chapter for both the team and the sport. There was a lot more to the decision than poor performances on the track...

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