Set to enter F1 in 2026 in partnership with Red Bull, Ford admits to monitoring the ongoing saga at the Austrian team involving Christian Horner.

Attending the Daytona 500, the iconic opener to the 2024 NASCAR season, Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Performance Motorsport, admitted that the current situation is of concern.

"As a family company, and a company that holds itself to very high standards of behaviour and integrity, we do expect the same from our partners," he told AP Sports.

"It appears to us, and what we've been told, is that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously, and of course they're worried about their brand as well. That's why they've got an independent investigation.

"Until we see what truth comes out of that, it's too early for us to comment on it all."

The saga remains shrouded in mystery, a situation not helped by speculation in the media and, of course, social media.

Attending the launch of the RB20 on Thursday, Horner, who had previously attended the opening of a new casino, was saying little but insisted that he will be attending this week's pre-season test in Bahrain.

However, aware of the damage that the speculation is doing, according to The Times, Red Bull is keen to conclude the saga as soon as possible.

Yet while the British newspaper claimed that Horner does not have the support of Max Verstappen, the three-time world champion disagrees.

"It's the same as always," he told reporters on Thursday. "I don't know who likes to write these kind of things, but between me and Christian it's like always."

Meanwhile, the media, especially at the lower end of the scale, continues to lap it up, the Daily Mail today proclaiming that "Geri Horner's Spice Girls bandmates 'offer her their support' as her Red Bull F1 boss husband Christian is accused of sending 'sexually suggestive messages' to an employee."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by ffracer, 24/02/2024 17:17

"@KKK, Ford has every right to weigh in with their monitoring of an RBR major issue. They are formally in business together and they have an obligation. Corporate/social media stance is corporate everything right now. "

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2. Posted by kenji, 21/02/2024 0:46

"@ Spindoctor. I don't see how there is anything stopping the complainant being identified if it can be established as a certifiable fact. The origin of the alleged comms may well be the UK and that fact would most likely be accepted as the likely jurisdiction for any legal challenge. I don't see how Horners nationality has any connection other than most likely being the language of choice for comms. If the investigation had remained 100% private/in house then covering up the identities should've been afforded both parties, it wasn't, yet the complainant continues to enjoy anonymity and protection from scrutiny by the public. That's discriminatory IMHO as Horner is disadvantaged by comparison. Selective leaking is damaging to those who have been named. This fact has been noted by so many commenters who, despite their allegiances, recognise the rights of the individual for being 'innocent until proven guilty'. "

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3. Posted by @R1Racing71, 19/02/2024 14:49

"This situation screams 'Ford's brand damage control squad in action!' The longer it drags on, the shakier the relationship gets, and you can bet Red Bull knows it. Christian Horner must be hoarding a deck full of aces to still be standing strong in this game!"

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4. Posted by KKK, 19/02/2024 13:45

"Ford should butt out of it, its none of their business, if they don't like it, I would advise them go somewhere else."

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5. Posted by Spindoctor, 19/02/2024 10:44

"@kenji Part of the explanation for the lack of information is that Horner is English, RBR's headquarters are in England. Should anyone reveal any details of the alleged inappropriateness, they might stand a chance of being sued in UK courts which, win or lose, is *very* expensive."

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6. Posted by kenji, 19/02/2024 10:17

"Given the gravity of the accusations and the paucity of detail it begs the question. Why, would the investigating independent legal entity hold an indepth cross examination of Horner then promptly go on holiday? Why is the expose being led by the Dutch media? These and a myriad of other questions arise but so far no names, no details of evidence etc etc. All very very strange. Interestingly the 'court of public opinion is remarkably supportive of Horner' ! That was a surprise. No doubt there'll be more surprises in store....."

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7. Posted by Spindoctor, 19/02/2024 7:44

"I recall that when it was mooted they'd do a deal giving VAG a big stake, Horner & Marko rejected it owing to their desire to avoid corporate interference & lethargy. RBR has now discovered the reality of "partnering" explicitly with behemoth international corporations.

In today's climate Ford will go to great lengths to avoid any hint of scandal involving bad, exploitative or inappropriate sexual behaviour. Let's hope that Horner is, as he claims, innocent. His "innocence" or othgerwise seems, unfortunately for him, somewhat the gift of internal Red Bull politiking."

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8. Posted by kenji, 18/02/2024 12:23

"Now the plot thickens! It seems as though there are some 'manipulators' at work here, drip feeding the media. "

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9. Posted by Chester, 18/02/2024 11:56

"Ford, an American company like so many others, is a cowering entity when it comes to social issues. So many of our companies take a stand on issues when they should stay neutral and sell their products.

I wouldn't read anything more into Ford's "concern". "

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10. Posted by Ricardo_sanchez, 18/02/2024 11:14

"That comment from Rushbrook would seem to indicate that this saga genuinely is a threat to Horner’s future at Red Bull. Up to now, I’d assumed it’d turn out to be a storm in a tea cup. "

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Ford monitoring situation at Red Bull

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