'Horner's lawyers tried to settle case after allegations of sexual impropriety' - reports

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported that lawyers acting on behalf of Christian Horner tried to reach a settlement with an employee he is claimed to have sent sexually improper messages to.

Horner was placed under investigation by Red Bull GmbH - the parent company of Red Bull Racing - and interviewed in London by a specialist barrister last week after a female member of the team lodged a complaint against him of improper behaviour.

Horner has denied all the allegations against him and was present at the launch of Red Bull's RB20 2024 car on Thursday, having not been suspended from his duties as Team Principal and CEO as the investigation is carried out.

De Telegraaf claims that Horner allegedly sent sexually oriented messages to the employee over an extended period of time, with these messages saved and presented as evidence to the external barrister, via the employee's own private lawyer, with the allegations being reported in December 2023.

It is alleged by De Telegraaf that Horner's lawyers tried to settle the case with a payment of £650,000 GBP, with senior Red Bull GmbH management aware of the situation.

The shares of Red Bull GmbH are split 51-49% between Thai owner Chalerm Yoovidhya and Mark Mateschitz, the son of the late Dietrich Mateschitz, with Red Bull head of sports Oliver Mintzlaff also aware of the investigation.

Horner denies all allegations against him, and publicly addressed the allegations against him for the first time at the launch of the RB20.

"Inevitably there has been a distraction, but the team are very together," he told media including RacingNews365.

"Everybody's focused on the season ahead, so it's been very much business as normal and the support has been fantastic.

"In situations like these, you see where the strengths are, and it's been overwhelming the support that I've had from within the team.

"The drivers have been incredibly good, the partners, it's been incredible."

"There have been some allegations made, which I fully deny, so that [the investigation] is very much going on in the background whilst preparing for the season ahead, and hopefully it will be concluded in the near future."