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I don't believe the dick pic story (at least not as its suggested). If he had done it, and the female employee could just show he'd done it, then i think he'd be fired immediately for gross misconduct, without needing an 8 hour hearing
That Mercedes looks slick.
Stake really sticking out like a sore thumb as the worst-looking graphics on the car. Looks like it was designed by Hotwheels to appeal to 3-year olds. Visacashapprb not looking great either. But the others all look quite nice; the silver/black treatment on the Merc is very tasteful indeed.
Looks like it was designed by Hotwheels to appeal to 3-year olds.
Liberty's target audience will lap that up, well played Sauber
Proving yet again that beauty etc etc. I quite like the Stake colours, I think it's a proper antidote to all the "very safe" schemes that have been the marketing/product placement influence on cars recently, and the CashAppRandomCaps team colours call back to the days of Torro Rosso, which is cool.
@Bez
Stake really sticking out like a sore thumb as the worst-looking graphics on the car. Looks like it was designed by Hotwheels to appeal to 3-year olds. Visacashapprb not looking great either. But the others all look quite nice; the silver/black treatment on the Merc is very tasteful indeed.
Yeah, and then Ferrari ruin it by having a mostly red car with a bit of black....
Gary Anderson had a column a while back about what happened when Ford took over Stewart and imposed their management ideas on the team.
There is the story about the Ford board meeting when they were discussing the salaries of the highest paid employees and no-one knew who Edmund Irvine was.
From the Mercedes launch it was very telling that when asked about this seasons objectives Toto was very vague, and didnt mention anything about wins or challenging Red Bull.
Already resigned to the fact that they are fighting for second place again?
Which in turn has lead to Lewis taking a chance on Ferrari?
So a Merc innovation - it's bound to be banned before the end of the week!...
https://twitter.com/dr_obbs/status/1757756506949194045?s=12&t=EQoHg-RGok071Fjc15ZHKw
Is it me, or is that really bad Photoshop? Look at Mick.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68294760
Christian will be at the Red Bull launch tomorrow - so all the controversy is either a massive storm in a tea-cup, or a big cheque is being written and the carpet in his office is being lifted and it's getting swept under it.
If he had done it, and the female employee could just show he’d done it, then i think he’d be fired immediately for gross misconduct, without needing an 8 hour hearing
Well, much as though I hate Horner, based on what I've read (only here), there's several possible defences along the "it wasn't me who did it guv" lines so let's see how this plays out.
Well, much as though I hate Horner, based on what I’ve read (only here), there’s several possible defences along the “it wasn’t me who did it guv” lines so let’s see how this plays out.
I guess they'd have to compare the photo to the real thing....rather them than me 😱
If the rumour that is is some dodgy picture then I doubt it is as simple as him sending it to her. That is not really controlling.
If any of it is true then I imagine it is something more like he has an inappropriate picture of her, him & her, something she doesn't want others to know about. He is then asking her to do things for work or make decisions that she doesn't want to. Controlling behaviour rather than absolute blackmail and he pinged her the picture to remind her about it.
Pure speculation, same as everyone else at the moment but slightly more plausible than he sent her a photo of his sausage
You’d think that that even if it wasn’t already obvious two or three pages ago that speculating on the goings-on behind the Horner kerfuffle was a dumb thing to be doing then it might have become clearer by now, but apparently not.
Maybe let’s all wait for things to run their course and for some actual facts to emerge, eh? It’s not like anyone wins a prize if their pet hypothesis turns out to bear any sort of resemblance to what actually happened.
Don't confuse me with facts, I've already made up my mind.
So how big a hole will this leave in the budget cap and how wind tunnel time will they lose? We demand to know.
there’s several possible defences along the “it wasn’t me who did it guv”
"That's not my winkle"
I'm not sure that willy waving would play out in court
I’m not sure that willy waving would play out in court
Bin dun.
Surely a selfie avatar would count as a dick pick 🤔
Nothing on the RB Red Bull launch?
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/red-bull-2024-f1-car-launch-gary-anderson-verdict-rb20/
Seems like we're all more interested in the Christian Horny panto than the actual car launch. Has Newey (and co) delivered another step forward for Max to cruise to the title in?
Has Newey (and co) delivered another step forward for Max to cruise to the title in?
Possibly. They were never going to stand still.
Has Newey (and co) delivered another step forward for Max to cruise to the title in?
They've certainly made it uglier!!!
And RB launches are never close to the real car - not sure why they bother - they can't even claim it's a livery launch!! 🙂
MILTON KEYNES - The riot within Formula One team Red Bull Racing surrounding the independent investigation into team boss Christian Horner appears to be one of major proportions. The female employee who came forward in December 2023 at the billion-dollar company's headquarters in Austria accuses Horner of sexually transgressive behavior.The employee turned over app traffic allegedly showing this to the outside lawyer investigating the Horner case. The Telegraph obtained this app traffic. Horner has so far denied all allegations.
The publication by De Telegraaf on Feb. 5 about the investigation by an external, specialized lawyer set up by the Red Bull summit already hit like a bomb in the Formula 1 world. Since then there has been plenty of speculation about the exact allegations made by the employee in question, whose name is known to these editors.Explosive material
It now appears that the woman's explosive material goes far beyond "just" some voice raising by the powerful team boss and his management style, as has been claimed here and there.
Stories about this have been circulating within the Formula 1 world for months, even as far back as 2023, and were thus already known behind the scenes at the time of the meeting with all team bosses in London, on that same Feb. 5.App traffic
On Thursday, those sounds surrounding the race team's major presentation were confirmed by multiple sources in Milton Keynes, England.
From the app traffic between the female employee of Red Bull and Horner, viewed by The Telegraph, the picture emerges that Horner (50) sent sexually oriented messages to the employee regularly and over a considerable period of time.Case covered up
All messages were saved and sent through the employee's lawyer to the external lawyer hired. The lawyer sat for hours with Horner last Friday. Earlier, the reporter had been heard for a long time.That Horner has done everything possible to cover up the case is also clear. On the weekend before the first publication in The Telegraph - after he was confronted with the investigation into transgressive behavior on Friday evening, February 2, and asked for a response - his lawyers sent a letter within 24 hours to the lawyer assisting the reporter. In it, the Horner camp offered a settlement in the amount of no less than 650,000 pounds, or more than 760,000 euros.
Allegations known to Red Bull top brass
Horner is a well-known figure in Britain not only for his position as Red Bull Racing team boss in the Formula One world (since 2005) and being in charge of more than 1,500 employees. He is also in a relationship with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and is therefore extra in the spotlight.
The allegations, the app traffic, as well as the tone of the apps are known to Red Bull executives in Austria, including Mark Mateschitz and sports boss Oliver Mintzlaff.Support from Yoovidhya
Yet Horner has not been suspended for the time being, pending the investigation, and has not decided to step down (temporarily) himself. That has everything to do with the fact that the Brit still has the support of Thai Chalerm Yoovidhya. The latter owns 51 percent of Red Bull and thus holds a majority. The remaining shares, 49 percent, are owned by Mark Mateschitz, the son of Dietrich Mateschitz, who died in 2022.Horner was at work as usual last period and Thursday at the Red Bull factory in Milton Keynes also attended the presentation of world champion Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez's new car for the upcoming Formula One season. Next week's test days are scheduled in Bahrain, the venue for the first race of the season a week later (Saturday, March 2).
Better lost than rich
After the team presentation on Thursday, the British driver again denied all allegations against him, stated that he will be in Bahrain next week, did not think about quitting and said that he feels a lot of support within the team and from the Red Bull top.
What is clear, however, is that many insiders, and presumably Horner himself, realize that within that Red Bull top - that is, not from the race team but from the headquarters in Austria - many would rather lose him than be rich.Known to other key players in F1
Not surprisingly, after questions from De Telegraaf about accusations against Horner, that headquarters confirmed very quickly that an investigation is indeed underway and the matter is being taken "extremely seriously. Horner was unaware of the statement at the time.
The allegations regarding Horner's sexually transgressive behavior are now also known to several other key players in the Formula One world.Eyes on Liberty Media
In addition, the eyes of American sports owners Liberty Media - which has owned Formula 1 for four billion euros since 2016 - are also focused on the issue and its handling, as are Red Bull's large, American sponsors Oracle and Ford.
Especially in the United States, these kinds of issues surrounding multinationals and world-renowned sports brands are especially sensitive.
To questions about the app traffic, Horner did not want to respond.
Nice spot Multi21! 👍
A Dutch paper you say! Do Red Bull employ any Dutch people who allegedly have beef with Mr Horner!? 🙂
If the way that reads is true then the Red Bull team should be charged with bringing the sport into disrepute too - as they are complicit to the media frenzy just by keeping Horner in place.
Blimey...if that is true (and as you say, they'd be mad to publish otherwise), he can't survive
I doubt they’d risk publishing this without proof.
They can publish public statements without evidence that the statements are true - they're quoting what someone said, not reporting it as fact. Leaked information is always leaked with an agenda. We don't know who leaked this or what their agenda is.
This is the reporter - some cosy pictures with the Verstappens! 🤔
https://www.instagram.com/erikvanharen/?hl=en-gb
They can publish public statements without evidence that the statements are true – they’re quoting what someone said, not reporting it as fact.
That's certainly not how i read it (albeit that it is a bad translation)
Edit: maybe in reading it wrong...i assumed the reporter mentioned is an employee of the paper but maybe not
#F1: Red Bull investigation into Christian Horner, upcoming engine partner Ford says it is awaiting the findings. Mark Rushbrook of Ford says "as a family company that holds itself to very high standards of behavior and integrity, we expect the same from our partners."
A shot across Red Bull's bows warning them not to take the investigation lighltly?
Regardless of how this turns out; I'd imagine it's not that zigazig ah at home right now for Mr H.
Well it’s made lead story on the Daily Mail so they’re not scared to report it.
In non F1 news - this is cool!…
[img] 
[/img]
…but why on earth is the opening round of WEC on the same weekend as F1 and just down the road in Qatar too! 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Bathurst 12hr race about to start 👍
👍👍
I'd had no personal opinion about Horner, TBH F1 has been a refuge for some of the world's biggest shits for decades - Balestre, Enzo, etc. But assuming that the allegations have substance, someone at his level sending a subordinate female employee sleazy texts isn't about pursuing a romantic relationship, it's about the abuse of power. If the allegations can be proved, IMHO he needs to fall on his sword, eff off and pay an acceptable amount of recompense to whoever was on the receiving end so to speak.
Here's someone who deserved to be in F1, https://www.teamgb.com/article/winter-tale-divina-galica/5zssuUEDCdKYpjZc9VJ0Ro
To me there always seems to be something nasty in the Redbull f1 team . With baby Verstaphen, his father and Horner there is the perfect recipe for a toxic atmosphere
Should the rumours prove true, then the most surprising thing in this saga will be that out of Verstappen's jnr, snr and Horner, it's the latter that gets done for this type of behaviour first.
https://twitter.com/roblmyers/status/1758825523604557904?s=46&t=EQoHg-RGok071Fjc15ZHKw
Sounds like they want this wrapped up before testing starts.
Should the rumours prove true, then the most surprising thing in this saga will be that out of Verstappen’s jnr, snr and Horner
The ‘Stappens are more fighty than touchy! 🤣🥊
If there was nothing to answer, the investigation would have been concluded.
the fact that they went ahead with the launch and Horner was present, seems like they just don’t give a shit and they/him are above it all.
If VCARB roll out the garage on Wednesday morning with a conceptually similar car to Red Bull, Zak Brown - will rightly - explode!... 🙂
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/red-bull-rb20-technik-geheimnis/
Interesting to see what Williams have been up to to - they've released nothing about this years car.
Interesting to see what Williams have been up to to – they’ve released nothing about this years car.
https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/why-2024-williams-f1-car-fw46-is-late/
I guess that we'll know on Wednesday whether it's Just late, or whether it's Late late.
Given up on Sky (and saved myself £70 a month on the sports subscription.) Going to try to use the Now Tv 24 hour pass to watch selected races - I think we could all admit to ourselves that some of them are dull...Now just to chose which ones to watch
Given up on Sky (and saved myself £70 a month on the sports subscription.)
I only watch on Sky as I piggy-back off my dads account - he never uses the Sky Go app - so it would be rude of me not to make use of it!
When F1TV Pro for the season only costs the price of one months Sky - it just shows how much we are being ripped off.
I just watch the C4 highlights.
I have now taken to reading the race report and then watching the highlights if it sounds like it is worth watching. Putting the whole lot behind a paywall killed off much interest from me.
I just watch the C4 highlights.
This is my thoughts, there's 10 or so races I'll probably watch live, they're either opening/closing races; Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, or ones that I've though have been good in the past, although Spa makes it on to the list, and unless there's weather (not too much, just the right amount) it's often dull.
I'm thinking Bahrain, Australian, Japan, Imola, Silverstone, Spa, Zandvoort, Monza, Singapore, Brazil, Abu Dhabi. Some I'll not watch at all just becasue of the Sports Washing, but if anything else becomes a crash-fest or just seems like a decent race, I'll watch on C4 catch up.
I should add that I also generally record the C4 highlights on my Humax box, so I can fast-forward the ads, the bits where Webber & Coulthard talk endlessly about how great Red Bull are & the Karen Horner interviews.
Hmmm, I'm not the most devoted F1 fan, I'll admit.
I tend to listen to 5 live, may watch highlights on YouTube. Putting it behind a paywall killed it for me.
C4 highlights for me too and remember that most of the presenters are on the RB payroll
It is.
If anyone is contemplating watching the Rob and Romesh F1 'special' on Sky I can save you the trouble - don't bother. How two people who have no interest in the sport can be given that level of access is beyond me, and they don't even pretend to be interested.
I should add that I also generally record the C4 highlights on my Humax box, so I can fast-forward the ads, the bits where Webber & Coulthard talk endlessly about how great Red Bull are & the Karen Horner interviews.
Same. The highlights are generally decent enough that I don't miss the full coverage.
F1 2024 Pre-Season - you just couldn't make it up!!! FIA to partner with Alpha Tauri as their threads supplier!.. 🤣 🤣
https://twitter.com/fia/status/1759580315419316634?s=12&t=EQoHg-RGok071Fjc15ZHKw
The C4/ Red Bull love-in is a bit tedious. Is it not produced by Couldthard’s production company
If by some miracle, Horner does leave, it'll be really funny to see how Coulthard and Weber spin it 😁
F1 2024 Pre-Season – you just couldn’t make it up!!! FIA to partner with Alpha Tauri as their threads supplier!..
Official FIA merch, get yours now! Payments accepted in VISA & CashApp
it’ll be really funny to see how Coulthard and Weber spin it
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_ferret
Logan Sergeant driving it too - hope they've made plenty of spare parts...
Good news on Williams getting the car out. I've got faith in James Vowles but I thought it was going to be another 2019 for a minute...
How two people who have no interest in the sport can be given that level of access is beyond me, and they don’t even pretend to be interested.
I used to work for a commercial specialist cleaning company, and we were quoting to clean the Merc factory. Looking down the spec was mental, all the various departments to clean, inc ‘Toto’s Office’…
Sales guy had no interest in F1 whatsoever, so a full, all access factory tour (inc a shit ton of NDAs) when pricing up, way more involved than any punter would get, was wasted on him 😤
Logan Sergeant driving it too
In the off-season he was remarkably candid about his performance, and his shock at just how brutal a season in F1 was compared to his expectations, and experience thus far racing formula cars. He's done quite a bit of work to improve his fitness apparently. I'm looking forward to seeing how he does, as underneath I think there's a decent driver.
I did some data work for Benneton F1 at Enstone, a few years back, and got the factory tour. It was amazing and not wasted on me at all.
I did some data work for Benneton F1 at Enstone, a few
yearsdecades back
FTFY
The other thing is that F1 drivers used to get a decent amount of testing mileage in before they even showed up at their first F1 race.
And now they turn up having spent hours and hours in the simulator which (by all accounts) is a bit more than just a fancy video game. Sure to they won't have the physical effort of driving the car, but they're not exactly unprepared for F1.
Sales guy had no interest in F1 whatsoever, so a full, all access factory tour (inc a shit ton of NDAs) when pricing up, way more involved than any punter would get, was wasted on him
A very good friend works in a very niche business that supplies rolling road type of stuff (I suspect it's all significantly more complex than big treadmills) to the motor trade – he's been to a few F1 sites as well as several major car manufacturers across the world. I am not sure if it's still the same, but there was a time that he was not even allowed on site with any kind of image capture device (ie, including phones with cameras). He's got a great job!
VCARB has hit the tracks - livery looked nice in the moodily lit renders - looks a bloody mess on track!! IMO of course...