Major twist after Geri Haliwell’s shock appearance with Christian Horner as Red Bull suspends F1 boss’s accuser

Christian Horner’s accuser has been suspended following Red Bull’s investigation into “inappropriate behaviour” against the Formula One team principal.

Horner, 50, was allowed to remain in his role after Red Bull Racing’s parent company GmbH said last Wednesday that the grievance against him had been dismissed.

PA understands the complainant, an employee of the Milton Keynes team, has now been suspended on full pay.

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She is believed to have received a legal letter at the beginning of this week, and now has five working days to appeal the outcome of the investigation which has cast an enormous shadow over Red Bull and the sport.

A Red Bull Racing spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment as it is an internal matter.”

The development unfolded behind the scenes while Horner was supported publicly by his wife Geri Haliwell after the Spice Girls star flew in for the Bahrain Grand Prix.

“I am fortunate I have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife. It has been very trying, and very challenging … the intrusion on my family is now enough. We need to move forward and focus on what we are here for … which is to go Formula One racing,” horner said on Thursday.

Horner, who has always denied the claims made against him, declined to comment on his accuser’s suspension.

“There is a grievance process that takes place in any company and that process is confidential between the individuals and the company itself. So even if I would like to talk about it, I can’t because of those restrictions,” he said.

Back on the track Max Verstappen, in the Red Bull, was doing just that, being fastest in first practice ahead of Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. However, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was quickest after second practice with Mercedes driver George Russell second and Verstappen third.

Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team were fined nearly $A25,000 – and the British driver slapped with a warning – following a near “serious high-speed crash” in second practice.

Williams driver Logan Sargeant was forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting the back of Hamilton’s slow-moving Mercedes.

Formula One’s stewards said Mercedes should have informed Hamilton that Sargeant was approaching him on a quick lap.

Earlier, Hamilton refused to rule out a Mercedes move for Verstappen, however unlikely it may sound, because his own decision to join Ferrari next season showed anything is possible.

Verstappen has a contract at Red Bull until 2028 but has been talked of as a possible replacement for the seven times Formula One world champion after relations soured between his father Jos and Horner.

“My move has shown that anything’s possible, and it’s going to be a really interesting next six months or so,” Hamilton said.

“I don’t have an extra scoop. I know that… I’m sure Max is on the list, but I’m pretty sure he’s tied up, and also, I couldn’t see why you would leave a car that is that good,” added the Briton.