Christian Horner latest: Red Bull team principal returns to pit wall after alleged text messages and photos leaked as drivers look to show expected pace after disappointing second practice yesterday

As hoped, we’re getting a few more teams out on track with the Saubers and Alex Albons’ Williams underway for the session.

Still three-quarters of an hour to go in this practice, so plenty of laps to come.

They’re still warming up of course, but Sainz goes 0.029 slower than Hamilton in his opening lap, with Leclerc looking even slower.

He was looking a bit behind the other two, but Leclerc has actually gone around six hundredths quicker than Hamilton.

And after that flying lap, he’s straight back into the pit and we’re back to an empty track once more.

But not for long – Carlos Sainz is on his way out, with Charles Leclerc not far behind, while Yuki Tsunoda is stood on some scales.

Not exactly one for the spectators just yet, but hopefully these two can spark a bit more action in the garages.

Well we’ve got Hamilton out there as well as…. well, nobody.

He’s got the whole lap to himself in Bahrain as the Mercedes star gets his first laps in.

A 1:32.733 to kick start the day for Hamilton.

This shot of Leclerc looks like the cover shot of a BBC thriller, while the less said about the bright green of that Kick Sauber uniform the better in my opinion.

Probably about the only thing bolder than Bottas’ mo and bleached mullet combination. The two together? Could be something incredibley powerful indeed.

Well, well, well – it looks like we’re getting cars on the track pretty soon.

The P3 clock is already counting down, and there are helmets poking out of the very claustrophobic cockpits with final preparations being done.

Five minutes into the session, there isn’t anyone out there, but it looks like we’re not long away from the action now!

So, as we’ve discussed today, Horner was cleared by a KC-led investigation into allegations of ‘inappropritate behaviour’ before reports yesterday emerged that alleged text messages from the Red Bull boss had been leaked.

Below, we’ve got a complete timeline of the investigation, leading all the way up to yesterday’s seismic reports…

February 5 – Red Bull Racing’s parent company GmbH confirms Horner is under investigation following an accusation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’. The company says it ‘takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible’.

February 9 – Horner is questioned by a lawyer for eight hours at a secret London location. There is no immediate resolution.

February 15 – Horner appears at Red Bull’s car launch – his first appearance in public since news of the allegations emerged. He vows to be in his role as Red Bull team principal for the first race of the season, and says: ‘For me, it is business as normal.’

February 18 – F1 makes its first public comment on the matter, calling for Horner’s future to be ‘clarified at the earliest opportunity’.

February 20 – Despite the ongoing investigation, Horner flies to Bahrain for three days of testing ahead of the new season.

February 21 – Horner takes his position on the Red Bull pit wall for the opening day of the test. Rival Mercedes boss Toto Wolff demands transparency from Red Bull’s investigation, and says the controversy is ‘an issue for all of Formula One’.

February 22 – Horner appears in a press conference alongside four other F1 team principals. He refuses to comment on the investigation, but says ‘everybody would like a conclusion as soon as possible’.

February 23 – Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen says ‘it will be nice for everyone’ when the investigation into Horner is concluded. Horner heads back to England following the conclusion of the test.

February 28 – Red Bull GmbH announces the ‘independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed’, clearing Horner to remain in his position.

February 29 – Text messages and photographs allegedly sent by Horner to a female employee are leaked, just hours after the Red Bull boss broke his silence on the investigation.

Slightly different vibe with this one…

Meanwhile over at Ferrari…. the Italian team have absolutely lathered on the filters for a shot of their car in the Bahrain sun.

Admittedly, it looks incredible, but could do without the nauseating spirals from the camera operators.

Carlos Sainz, at least, had a good day yesterday, coming in in fourth just under four tenths slower than pace-setter Hamilton.

Charles Leclerc meanwhile had a poor one, his 1:31.113 only good enough for ninth.

Says a lot that even without a race win in over two years, Hamilton is still the centre of attention.

Here’s a look at the Mercedes star’s entrance in Bahrain earlier on today, featuring some of the best trousers you’ll see for a long time.

Some annoying news for you – it’s currently a lovely 21 degrees over in Bahrain on this fine March day.

Humidity in the mid-30s but not a drop of rain in the sky, and more of the same expected for qualifying in around four hours.

For comparison, my computer in the London office is saying ‘seven degrees celsius – feels colder.’

All right for some, isn’t it?

‘A man famous for his first-lap raids of the Formule One grid’ has got to be one of the great sporting title.

Here’s a look at one of the old masters Fernando Alonso practicing his take-off in practice yesterday, ahead of this afternoon’s all-important qualifying session.

So let’s recap one of the bigger stories of the day…

F1 bosses and owners are considering their next move amid the ongoing Christian Horner situation, following alleged leaks of messages between the Red Bull boss and the female employee who has accused him of ‘inappropriate behaviour’.

Horner had been cleared by a KC-led investigation, however despite a lesser-known FIA rule it remains to be seen whether the governing body launch an investigation of their own.

‘Hundreds of WhatsApp messages, many of a sexual nature, were sent to 149 of Formula One’s key figures, including all Horner’s fellow team principals, via an anonymous account,’ writes JONATHAN McEVOY.

‘FIA president Mohammad ben Sulayem, who is due in the paddock today, was also among the recipients and it remains to be seen if the governing body will step into the controversy. They, and owners Formula One Management (FOM), are considering their next steps.

‘The storm blew up after Horner had been cleared on Wednesday of ‘coercive behaviour’ by an internal inquiry conducted by Red Bull’s parent company in Salzburg.

‘An option open to the FIA is Article 12.2.1.c of the International Sporting Code, which applies to, “Any act prejudicial to the interests of any competition or to the interests of motor sport generally.”‘

READ MORE at the link below on that one…

So Mercedes dominated yesterday’s second practice session, while Verstappen was down in sixth, almost half a second shy of the seven-time winner.

But what was happening at McLaren???

Piastri had a grand old day out, his fastest lap from 27 runs around the course was good enough for fifth place overall at 1:30.784.

But it was a day to forget for his partner Norris, who was propping up the paddock with his best time of 1:32.608.

“It’s only FP2” they’ll say, but it’s hardly something Norris will want to take into qualifying is it?

Fish-eye lens perhaps not the one I would’ve gone for…

Leclerc looks more in pain than excited, while I’m not entirely sure what emotion Gasly is going through there

Ford were set to take over from Honda as Red Bull’s official engine suppliers.

However, the American manufacturers have now gone silent following the allegations levelled at Christian Horner.

Ford had voiced concerns about the allegations and warned that they expected ‘very high standards of behaviour and integrity’.

However, when approached for comment by Mail Sport they declined to comment.

Take a look at the link below for more on Ford’s silence over the Horner allegations.

‘It’s the audacity of Christian Horner that really takes your breath away,’ writes Mail Sport’s IAN HERBERT in his MAIL+ column on the Red Bull boss.

‘The brass neck and air of absolute invincibility which has allowed him to strut around an F1 paddock in Bahrain, cock of the walk, betraying no sense of personal jeopardy when he would have known about a deluge of WhatsApp messages which surely mean he is finished,’

If you want to read more of his column, you can check out the link below.

F1 is renowned for the money that surrounds it; both in the sport and for the lavish events that follow it around the world.

As such, drivers are paid by the bucket load to put themselves through the intensity and high-risk sport that so many love, but who is paid most?

Hamilton comes in at No 2 with £40m-a-year – which is more than both Ferrari drivers combined – so what do you think he’ll be on over in Maranello?

As we all already know – unless we’ve been living under a rock for the last month – Hamilton is on his way out of Mercedes – but who could replace him?

A straight swap with Sainz? A move for the veteran Alonso? A chance for Albon?

Who do you think should get the call from Toto Wolff?

Here we go then – it’s the 2024 F1 intros review, the one you all came to see.

I’ll let you make up your own minds on it, and it proves divisive every year, but here are a few of my personal faves…

In at P1 is Esteban Ocon trying to show Derek Zoolander a thing or two about Blue Steel.

P2 is for Lewis Hamilton looking very much down for business – he hasn’t actually won a race since Saudi Arabia in 2021.

P3 Close behind is Lando Norris looking like a teenager whose mum has asked him to try on his new clothes that she’s just bought him.

And of course, shout out to Bottas’ mullet. It’s a bold look, but the moustache completes it fantastically.

See what you think at the link below…

You don’t get a lot of flabbergasted these days, but that’s what Red Bull’s Helmut Marko is right now according to reports.

‘I’m flabbergasted and surprised that the documents were leaked. I’ve never seen them myself.

That was the team advisor’s reaction as he broke his silence following allegedly leaked messages from Christian Horner to a female employee who had accused him of ‘inapproprate behaviour’.

You can read more about Marko’s response at the link below…

As we know, it might be the most glamourous sport in the world, but F1 is also perhaps the most dangerous.

F1 has seen a number of drivers unfortunately either seriously injured or tragically lose their lives as a result of the ultra high-speed, wheel-to-wheel action on track, and as such numerous measures have been put in place to limit the potential for danger.

One of these is the FIA’s ‘jump test’ which Mercedes have very helpfully illustrated with a little video down below…

Reckon you could do it all in under 15 seconds?

After a build-up perhaps quite unlike any other in history, Bahrain is the curtain-raiser for what is set to be a seismic season in F1.

The Drive To Survive-induced beefy feel to Formula One seems at an all-time peak, drivers are already deciding where they’ll end up next season, and there has been controversy clouding one team, and by extension, the rest of the sport in the lead up to this weekend.

As such, Mail Sport have put together a guide to match it, which you can find below, with some fantastic graphics, figures and stats to get you right in the mood for the action.

Take a look below – my personal favourite is the interactive track graphic which shows you just where in the world each race is taking…

Spare a thought for Carlos Sainz, who hasn’t really done a lot wrong since joining Ferrari from McLaren and now finds himself out of a job at the end of the year.

He may have finished just six points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc last season, but he was the only Ferrari to win a race all year.

But you can fully understand Ferrari’s decision – you don’t pass up on the opportunity to land a fish as big as Hamilton.

Sainz, though, is not going to rush his decision on his furture, and told Sky Sports just how important he feels it is to get his next team right.

I think there’s less urgency than six months ago – six months ago I had a clear intention to get to know my future before the first race, but there was a plot twist!

It’s a long process I think, and it’s an important contract that I’m going to sign – it’s probably going to involve the next two, three, four years of my career.

I’m going to be 30 this year so I think it’s important years in my career. I feel in a good moment physically and mentally, so I think it’s important to take the time.

Fred Vasseur told reporters yesterday that he was looking forward to welcoming Hamilton to the Ferrari garage next season. Shock.

But after explaining that there was still some way to go for Ferrari to return to the tippy-top and that Hamilton was convinced they could do just that, he seemed to have a little pop at his future driver’s age.

Steady on, Fred, he’s only 39!

Such is the situation in F1 at the moment that we’ve somehow – SOMEHOW – not even mentioned the enormous news that broke on transfer deadline day.

Lewis Hamilton, the face of Mercedes – and arguably motorsport in its entirety – will be leaving for Ferrari at the end of the season.

It’s a stunning move, but one that seems so right on so many levels.

Ferrari are probably the most iconic brand in sport (enter incoming comments to the contrary) and Hamilton is not just an elite sportsperson in his own right, but one of the most image-attuned figures in the world.

It’s an iconic move for an iconic driver to join an iconic team – but can he sign off with a flourish at Mercedes this term?

The investigation into the allegations may be over, but Horner is perhaps still set for further hot water.

The FIA’s International Sporting Code contains a sub-section of an article which hints at the moral responsibility competitors have to the organisation – and if this is breached, there could be potential sanctions handed out.

One key detail from the lesser-known clause dictates that punishment can be meted out for breaches ‘committed intentionally or through negligence’.

Check out the below link for more on the FIA rule that could land Horner more hot water in the wake of allegedly leaked text messages.

Christian Horner, as we’ve already mentioned, has continued to deny the allegations made against him since they first emerged.

His rivals, however, have called for the sport’s governing body to demand ‘more transparency’ from Red Bull.

Toto Wolff is among those calling for more information, as well as for a chance to ‘look behind the curtain’.

I just read the statement, which was pretty basic. My personal opinion is we can’t really look behind the curtain.

There is a lady in an organisation that has spoken to HR and said there was an issue and it was investigated and yesterday the sport has received the message that it’s all fine, we’ve looked at it.

Check out the story below for more details on that one.

So it wasn’t the table-topping performance from Max Verstappen yesterday, as he admits he struggled to find the ‘sweet spot’ out on the track.

He seemed laid back, but insisted that the team needs to ‘make sure’ they’re in fighting shape today.

He’s predicting a close qualifying, which would be a welcome start to the season for sure!

Take a look at what the champ had to say below.

And for the best seat in the house for Hamilton’s practice performance you can check out the link below.

It really is amazing footage – you can practically feel the G forces as he sends it into the corners.

Hamilton, however, was not getting carried away – seven world titles and 103 race wins will do that to you – and claimed that Mercedes were ‘there or thereabouts’.

Ominously, though, he still doesn’t see a way past reigning champ Max Verstappen.

I think we’re going to be in the mix. I think it’s a bit too early to say, but I think we’re there or thereabouts with Ferrari and maybe Aston [Martin] and McLaren. I don’t know exactly where we lie with those guys, but we’re around those so it’s going to be close.

A nice battle with us, I think if Max is in the front he will veer off as he has done for the last couple of years.

And here’s what Hamilton himself had to say about yesterday’s performances…

[In] FP1, [we] were surprised. It was very, very windy this morning, so it was a really difficult session I think for everyone. The track was so different compared to practice [during pre-season testing] last week. Otherwise it was feeling okay, but we didn’t really know where we stood on the C2 tyre, and then in this session, [with] the car, we made some improvements over the session.

Again I don’t understand, it’s a shock to see us where we are. We’ll take it for now but we can’t get ahead of ourselves. We need to keep our heads down, keep working on the set-up. I think our long-run pace is nowhere near the Red Bulls, for example, and I think we were a lot closer so we’ve got some work to do there.

Now back to the actuall racing…

With all the reports emerging in the last few weeks off the track, it has certainly been a relief to actually get some action on it.

And there was perhaps a surprise outcome with a Mercedes one-two finish!

Of course, the regular caveats apply – you know, something along the lines of “it’s only practice” or “wait and see what happens in qualifying” and the like, but it’s surely some encouraging news for the Silver Arrows!

Throughout the investigation, Horner has attending each event in the run up to the season’s first race tomorrow.

From testing to practice, Horner has continued in to take his seat by the track and steer his team through their paces.

He was back in the paddock again on Thursday morning, however he is also thought to be fighting to save his nine-year marriage to former Spice Girl Geri, as JONATHAN McEVOY writes.

You can read more on that one at the story linked right here.

According to Sky Sports, the head of the FIA Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali are set to meet to discuss the alleged leaks.

The outlet is also reporting that some within the sport believe an FIA investigation could be launched.

We’ll bring you more on that as it unfolds.

Horner has continued to deny the allegations, and maintained his stance yesterday despite alleged evidence that emerged.

The purported evidence was believed to have been sent out to a number of accredited media figures, journalists, pit bosses and the FIA themselves.

He told the media yesterday that he is focused on the season to come after it emerged that he had been cleared by the investigation, and spoke of how united his team remained.

Here’s a look at his interview after the news broke that he had been cleared.

So – to the crux of the matter.

Christian Horner had faced allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ following accusations made by a female colleague, before the Red Bull boss was cleared by an investigation.

However, yesterday saw a tranche of messages between Horner and the female employee allegedly leaked, plunging the 50-year-old’s future in the sport into fresh crisis.

As JONATHAN McEVOY writes, The bombshell email contained 79 documents, including hundreds of messages, many of them of a sexual nature.

Read more about that story at the link below.

We will of course be going into more detail shortly, but for those of you looking for an update on all that’s been going on in Formula One over the last few days, why not take a look at Jonathan McEvoy’s POLE POSITION column?

Come for Hamilton’s practice showings, stay for fashion tips from Crown Prince Salman.

You can check out that one at the link below.

Good morning everyone and welcome to Mail Sport’s live Formula One blog, where we’ll be bringing you all the latest updates from in and around the paddock today ahead of qualifying this evening.

From the ongoing situation around Christian Horner to yesterday’s practice sessions – there’s plenty to talk about throughout the day ahead of the first quali of the season over in Bahrain.

And that’s not even mentioning perhaps the most important update, the official opening titles.

Stick with us throughout the day as we bring you all the latest news about anything and everything F1!