Ford urges Red Bull to be ‘transparent’ in Christian Horner probe amid claims he ‘sent sexual messages to employee’

FORD has urged Red Bull Racing to be "transparent" with their probe into the blockbuster claims against F1 chief Christian Horner.

Red Bull opened up a serious investigation into the shock allegations by a female employee but fresh claims say Horner also sent her "sexually suggestive" texts.

Horner — who has denied all of the allegations so far — was originally only under investigation over alleged controlling behaviour at work.

, claimed to have seen ­messages at the heart of the probe and have alleged they were “sexually orientated”.

Ford will be partners with Red Bull Racing from 2026 as the team's engine supplier but in wake of the allegations.

The reports that a private letter from the US carmaker to the owner of the F1 team allegedly urged Red Bull to be fully open in its findings, according to two people around Ford.

They claim Ford didn't apply any pressure for a certain outcome to be reached but did stress that it expects the investigation to be done seriously but quickly.

Mark Rushbrook, head of Ford Motorsport released a statement on Friday to the Associated Press saying: "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.

"It appears to us, and what we’ve been told, was that Red Bull is taking the situation very seriously. And of course, they’re worried about their brand, as well.

"And that’s why they’ve got an independent investigation and until we see what truth comes out of that, it’s too early for us to comment on it all."

So far, neither Horner or the woman have been suspended and have continued to work among 1,500 staff at Red Bull Racing’s British HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Horner publicly addressed the allegations against him for the first time at the launch of the RB20 this week.

He said: “Inevitably there has been a distraction, but the team are very together.

“Everybody’s focused on the season ahead, so it’s been very much business as ­normal and the support has been fantastic.

“In situations like these, you see where the strengths are, and it’s been overwhelming the support that I’ve had from within the team.

“There have been some allegations made, which I fully deny, so that the investigation is very much going on in the background whilst preparing for the season ahead, and hopefully it will be concluded in the near future.”

It comes as...

• Wife Geri Halliwell 'terrified her life will unravel'
• Bernie Ecclestone gives Horner three key pieces of advice
• Moment Horner leads secret Red Bull F1 test
• Geri 'leaning on' Victoria Beckham for support
• Horner 'urged to resign from Red Bull'
• Insiders claim Horner 'not expected to survive' probe
• Decision on his F1 future 'could take months'

WHAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED?

F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that the sport's longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull's Austria-based parent company.