Horner’s Red Bull accuser paid £3 million to drop her case

The Daily Mail reports that, the payout marks the latest twist in a saga that has gripped Formula 1 since early 2024, when the Red Bull team principal faced internal investigations over alleged inappropriate conduct. It marked the beginning of the end of Horner's stellar two-decade career.

The unnamed employee, whose identity is protected by legal anonymity, is understood to have accepted the settlement to end her association with the team. She was seen in the paddock during the recent Singapore Grand Prix and is reported to have taken up a new position with another outfit.

Horner, 51, was eventually cleared twice by internal investigations into alleged coercive behaviour towards the woman. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout, he was removed from his role in July following what insiders described as an internal power struggle at Red Bull.

After leaving the Milton Keynes-based team, Horner reportedly received an £80 million ($102-million) pay-off as part of his severance agreement. The former team principal, who led Red Bull to eight Formula 1 Drivers’ and six F1 Constructors’ Championships across two dominant eras with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, is said to be seeking a route back into the sport next season.

Horner’s representatives have declined to comment, but sources suggest he hopes to return to the Formula 1 paddock by spring 2026, once his contractual restrictions expire.

Throughout the scandal, Horner’s wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 52, publicly supported him. Their marriage came under intense scrutiny after screenshots of alleged WhatsApp exchanges between Horner and the employee were leaked just one day after the first investigation cleared him of wrongdoing.

Horner consistently denied all allegations, describing them as false and malicious. His eventual exit came shortly after Red Bull GmbH, the team’s Austria-based parent company, announced his dismissal on 9 July.

Horner’s departure followed weeks of internal tension that escalated around the Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg. Results had been poor, with Verstappen retiring after a collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and Yuki Tsunoda finishing 16th.

Horner was reportedly given no formal explanation for his dismissal but is believed to have been caught in a political battle within Red Bull’s senior management.

His exit ended a 20-year tenure that began with the team’s arrival on the Formula 1 grid in 2005, during which he became one of the sport’s most recognisable figures. Horner’s potential return to Formula 1 remains uncertain, but the resolution of his high-profile dispute appears to clear a key obstacle to any future comeback.