Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell earlier this year (Image: Getty)
has opened up about the ‘inappropriate behaviour’ scandal that rocked the world of Formula One.
Horner was accused by a female employee of wrongdoing just weeks before the 2024 Formula One season was due to take place.
The Formula One guru denied all the claims made against him but as a year of contrasting emotions for Horner comes to a close, he’s spoken out on the scandal.
In a tell-all interview with , Horner praised the support from wife Geri Halliwell, while hitting back at the actions from Formula One rivals during his darkest hour.
“What happened at the start of the year felt like a perfect storm. In life, it is a great lesson that the more success you have, the more of a target you become.
“Anything that can be used to unsettle and destabilise you and the team and the business. What disappointed me more than anything was the steps that people went to in order to try and achieve that.”
His wife Geri stood by Horner’s side publicly throughout the ordeal, to which the chief added: “You just stay true to yourself and I am very fortunate that I have got a tremendous family. My wife has been unbelievable, fantastic. Your partner is always the one you share your difficulties with. She has been absolutely outstanding and hugely supportive.
“She saw through a lot of things from having an outside perspective and it is good to have that weight and measure. It is hugely important. You learn about yourselves in times of difficulty and I was absolutely determined that we would navigate through the difficult waters.”
Max Verstappen and Christian Horner celebrate one of the Dutchman’s victories (Image: Getty)
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At the beginning of 2024, with the scandal dominating headlines, alongside rumours of unrest within the camp, the previously infallible racing behemoth appeared vulnerable.
But as Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing, and the noise subsided, and chiefly , got themselves back on track.
So much so, that the Dutchman had wrapped up his fourth consecutive Drivers’ Championship title well before the Formula One circus rolled into Abu Dhabi for the final race of the year.
On Verstappen’s latest triumph, Horner added: “There is so much noise in this paddock, whenever I have crossed that red line as you walk from the paddock into the garage, that’s your safe haven.
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“There was a lot of noise and distraction earlier in the year and then the car wasn’t performing and everyone kept their head and worked hard and we got performance on the car in the back end of the year and we have worked our way through it.
“In times of difficulty and when stones are being thrown, it actually galvanises a team. I think there was an element of “f*** you” from the team this year. Our people were saying “We are a strong team, no matter what you throw at us, bring it on”.
“I never felt I might have to walk away. I believed in myself. I believed in the process. I trusted in the process that was scrupulously applied by the company and I just had to trust to that. When I was on the plane to Bahrain, I didn’t know whether I was going to be at the race or not.”
The 2025 Formula One season gets going in March 2025.