Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner recalls F1 scandal leak in new footage: 'The end goal was for me to leave'

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner has opened up about the highly publicised scandal that rocked his career during the 2024 Formula 1 season. Horner has revealed in new footage from Netflix’s Formula 1: Drive to Survive that he believed the controversy was a calculated effort to force him out of the team.

The latest season of the popular docu-drama, set to be released on Friday, takes fans behind the scenes of the 2024 Formula 1 season. One of the storylines focuses on Horner’s battle to retain his position as Red Bull’s boss after he was accused of inappropriate behavior by a female colleague, allegations he consistently denied and was ultimately cleared of following an independent investigation.

Christian Horner on email leak scandal during F1 2024 season

In a teaser for the new season, Horner is seen addressing the scandal and the immense pressure it brought upon him.

“The higher you rise, the sharper the knives. I’d reached the top of my game and never thought in a million years I’d have a challenge like this in my career. It’s a crucial time of the year, and in the job that I do, you’re the front face of the organization. You can either hide away or you can get out there and face it,” Horner said.

The controversy erupted just 10 days before Red Bull was set to launch their 2024 F1 challenger. As news of the investigation spread, it dominated headlines and threatened to derail the team’s focus as they aimed to secure their fourth consecutive drivers’ championship.

Horner’s wife, Geri Halliwell, is also featured in the documentary, supporting her husband. In one scene, she tells Horner, “The truth is, you never know what life’s going to bring.”

The series captures the immediate aftermath of an anonymous email leak that sent shockwaves. The email, which surfaced during the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix’s first practice session, contained alleged messages between Horner and the complainant.

“At the end of the second practice, suddenly my phone starts getting messages and this, that, and the other. There’s a bombshell that’s dropped with a bunch of alleged messages. It was obviously premeditated to cause me the maximum amount of distraction, the maximum amount of aggravation. It was obvious that the end goal was for me to leave Red Bull,” Horner states.

Red Bull’s internal investigation ultimately dismissed the claims against Horner. An appeal from the complainant was also rejected in August 2024. Red Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company issued a statement:

“Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous, and impartial. The investigation report is confidential and contains private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation. Therefore, we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”

Horner, who has led Red Bull since its debut in F1 in 2005, has overseen eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ titles, including Max Verstappen’s dominant run in 2023.