Revealed: Woman at centre of scandal that almost brought down former Red Bull chief Christian Horner last year has a new role in motorsport
The 'female employee', as she was usually referred to in media reports, made accusations of inappropriate and coercive behaviour of a sexual nature against then Red Bull team principal Horner.
She has not been named by Mail Sport for legal reasons, and her identity remains a secret from the public.
Horner, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was cleared of misconduct by two separate investigations led by KCs.
Earlier this month, the 51-year-old executive effectively left Red Bull after 20 years in charge, during which time he led them to 14 world titles.
He was not given an explanation for being 'released from operational duties' three weeks ago on Tuesday. A severance package worth up to £60million to settle his contract has yet to be agreed.
Despite having her claims rejected, the woman remained on Red Bull's payroll for many months afterwards, suspended on full pay, though that arrangement is believed to have stopped some time ago.
It has now emerged that she has taken up a new position.
The paddock was electrified in Bahrain last March when an anonymous email, containing a slew of racy text messages purporting to be between Horner and the employee, was sent to F1's leading figures and media.
Horner was absent from the F1 paddock at the Belgian Grand Prix for the first time since 2004, instead watching avidly from home as Oscar Piastri won, with Red Bull's defending champion Max Verstappen fourth.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
31 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin gives his verdict on new rebel R360 league - and outlines key issue that could force players to 'vote with their feet'
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has insisted players will 'vote with their feet' if joining the game's proposed new rebel league means they cannot represent their countries too. Mail Sport this week revealed the latest on R360's plans to shake up rugby's established order, with Manchester United and Liverpool owners the Glazers and Fenway Sports Group, as well as Red Bull, ready to buy into the tournament as franchise owners. The first season of R360 is slated to start in September 2026. Home-based English players who join the rebel competition – where contracts of up to $1million-a-season are being offered – would have to give up international rugby to do so. That's because RFU rules state players must be employed by a Premiership club to represent Steve Borthwick 's national side. 'We know players want to play international rugby. It is the pinnacle of the game,' said Gilpin, speaking in Australia on Tuesday. 'It's important whatever is getting endorsed and invested in gives players that opportunity. 'Whatever doesn't give players that opportunity, the players will vote with their feet on that. 'We've got to make sure whatever competitions players are going to play in, they can play in those big moments. They want to and the fans want that too. 'In England, if you don't play Premiership Rugby, you're not selected for the national team other than in some very exceptional circumstances. 'There are different versions of that around the world. 'That's a question national federations need to consider.' Given the lucrative money, as well as numerous other welfare benefits including fewer games on offer with R360, it is likely some players will be willing to give up Test rugby to join. Gilpin believes any external investment into rugby from the likes of Red Bull would be welcomed, so long as it benefits the sport as a whole and not just a few individuals. He added he would be keen to engage with R360's driving forces in 2003 England World Cup winner Mike Tindall and leading agent Mark Spoors as soon as possible. 'We need to have a dialogue with those guys when they are ready to do that. Rugby needs investment,' Gilpin said. 'Rugby is in a really competitive environment. Around the world, every sport is competing in an ever more difficult attention economy. 'Investment into the game is great. 'As long as that investment is driving into the right areas and creating a more financially sustainable game for players and for the wider ecosystem, then we encourage it. 'We've got to understand what that means in the R360 case.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Tadej Pogacar explains reason behind pulling out of Vuelta a Espana after Tour de France victory
Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar is set to skip the Vuelta a Espana, leaving the year's final Grand Tour as one of the few races he still has yet to win. Pogacar - who equalled Chris Froome 's four titles in Paris on Sunday - has cut a more downbeat figure than usual at points during this Tour de France, saying 'I can't wait for the Tour to be over' during the tough final week in the Alps, and admitting afterwards that it was the hardest edition of the race he has contested. This year's route featured five hors-categorie summit finishes and a punchy, Classics-style opening week before gruelling stints in the Pyrenees and Alps, and a full-throttle finish taking in several steep climbs up Montmartre in Paris. So it is not a huge surprise that the 26-year-old has opted out of racing the Vuelta a Espana, which starts on 23 August in Torino, Italy. 'After such a demanding Tour, we decided it was best to take a break,' Pogacar said through his team on Tuesday. 'The Vuelta is, of course, a race I would dearly love to return to. I have fantastic memories there from 2019, but now the body is telling me to rest.' He added that his race calendar for the second half of the year will include the Grands Prix in Canada in September, and that a major target will be the World Championships, held at altitude in Kigali, Rwanda. 'I'm excited to go back to Canada; the races are tough but beautiful, and they fit my style well. I'll be aiming to be back racing well again for that part of the season and for the World Championships especially,' he said. Pogacar would have been a heavy favourite for the Vuelta, which he has not ridden since his breakout year in 2019, when he made his Grand Tour debut there. The Slovenian, then aged 20, won three stages and the best young rider classification en route to a third-place finish overall. In his absence two-time Tour de France champion Jonas Vingegaard, who finished second behind Pogacar in Paris, is the favourite to win the maillot rojo. His Visma-Lease a Bike squad have not confirmed their final lineup for the Vuelta. Pogacar's UAE Team Emirates-XRG team have named their eight-man squad for the race, which was won by Pogacar's compatriot Primoz Roglic of Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe last year. Portuguese climber Joao Almeida, who crashed heavily early in the Tour and abandoned with a broken rib, is set to be a co-leader along with Spanish rider Juan Ayuso at his home race. Ivo Oliveira, Domen Novak, Mikkel Bjerg, Jay Vine, Marc Soler, and Felix Grossschartner complete the lineup.
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Nottingham Forest keen on Fulham's Adama Traoré after Dan Ndoye deal
Nottingham Forest are interested in signing the Fulham winger Adama Traoré. If a deal can be done for the 29-year-old it would see him reunite with Nuno Espírito Santo, who he worked under at Wolves. After selling Anthony Elanga and Ramón Sosa, Forest have been eager to recruit new wingers. A club-record deal was agreed for Bologna's Dan Ndoye on Monday, with the Switzerland international set to join this week after a medical is completed. Personal terms are not thought to be an issue for Ndoye, who turned down the chance of moving to Serie A champions Napoli in favour of the Premier League. Traoré has spent the past two seasons at Craven Cottage after joining on a free transfer from Wolves, where he worked under Nuno for three years, helping them finish seventh twice. The Portuguese is a huge admirer of Traoré and is pushing for a deal to be completed. Traoré played 36 times for Fulham last season, scoring twice and creating a further seven goals to help Marco Silva's men finish 11th The potential arrival of Traoréconsidered one of the quickest players in the Premier League, would help negate the loss of Elanga, who joined Newcastle for £55m earlier in the window. Going into their first European campaign in 30 years, Forest are also considering increasing their bid for James McAtee after seeing an opening offer of £20m plus £5m in add-ons rejected by Manchester City for the England Under-21 midfielder.
