Mercedes Formula 1 boss asserts that their team would approach a similar situation differently from Christian Horner’s case due to their status as Mercedes. Red Bull Racing’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, released a statement stating that their team manager had not engaged in any inappropriate behavior, withholding information about the initial complaint made by a female team member. On February 29th, a Google Drive folder containing alleged WhatsApp conversations between F1 team managers, the FIA, the media, and Formula 1 was shared with hundreds of journalists via a link. Toto Wolff, the manager of the Mercedes team, criticized Red Bull’s handling of the matter and expressed confidence in Mercedes’ ability to conduct a transparent investigation.
Toto Wolff emphasized that Mercedes is one of the top 10 brands globally and values transparency and governance. He also highlighted Mercedes’ commitment to good values and innovation in new technology. The disclosure of personal texts sent by Christian Horner to a female employee has reportedly put his marriage with Geri Halliwell in question. Geri’s plans to support her husband in Bahrain are highly unlikely due to the sensitive information becoming public. Shortly after being found not guilty, a significant amount of personal texts between Horner and the female co-worker were made public, humiliating Geri, who now requires explanations from Horner. In addition to addressing personal matters, Horner also needs to refocus the Red Bull F1 team. With the Bahrain Grand Prix approaching, Horner will face potential drama as F1 and FIA reopen the case of photo leaks. Balancing both his personal and professional life will be crucial for Horner to achieve the best results.