DRIVE TO SURVIVE Christian Horner ‘not expected to survive’ Red Bull probe into ‘inappropriate behaviour’, say F1 insiders

 F1 insiders claim RED Bull chief Christian Horner is "not expected to remain" in his role after allegations of "inappropriate and controlling behaviour".

Horner, 50, fought to save his career at an eight-hour D-Day inquiry on Friday over a complaint by a female colleague - as sources revealed he will not resign.

Following the outcome of the investigation, insiders are "not expected to survive in their roles" at Red Bull, BBC Sport reports.

This raises the question of who will take charge of world champion Max Verstappen's all-conquering racing team.

But an F1 source told The Sun that "Christian has not been sacked or asked to resign and he will not resign".

He also revealed that the investigation is not near its end - potentially it could stretch into the new F1 season.

The insider said: “This is not a test and we will not have any answers or results until the end of the day.

“This is not something that can be fixed so quickly.

"People are hoping it will be over before the start of the F1 season, but that's not going to happen."

The Red Bull Racing boss, who has led the Austrian team since its formation in 2005, was questioned by an independent barrister in a private location on Friday afternoon.

Horner has reportedly described the allegations as "insane" and has publicly stated: "I completely deny these claims."

He was smiling when he was being taken to the crisis meeting yesterday morning.

F1 was shocked on Monday by the news that the sport's longest-serving team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull's Austria-based parent company.

It has allegedly compiled "a dossier of incriminating material" relating to "inappropriate and controlling behaviour" towards a female employee, The Telegraph reports.

The investigation threatens to overshadow the start of the new F1 season – the first practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix takes place on February 29.

His Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell, 51, is understood to be standing by her husband, whom she married in 2015.

He has told friends: "Christian has done nothing wrong."

Horner is said to have vowed privately to his friends that he would "clear his name and come through this," a source told the Daily Mail earlier this week.

"She will stand by him and be by his side like she always has. She never misses a race and that won't change."

However, another source claimed that the scandal involving her husband has created a "Grand Canyon-sized rift" right in the middle of their "super-perfect, super-posh life."

Under Horner's leadership, Red Bull has won seven Formula One World Driver's Championships and six World Constructor's titles.

Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motor sport in the 2024 New Year Honors list.

Prior to the investigation into Horner's conduct, there were reports of an unrelated internal power struggle breaking out within Red Bull.

Rumors of issues among the team's leadership have swirled since the death of billionaire co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, and Chai has drafted in a new board of directors.

Oliver Mintzlaff, former CEO of RB Leipzig, was appointed chief executive.

Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Red Bull GmbH motorsport advisor Helmut Marko.

There are even rumors that Horner was determined to leave 80-year-old Marko out of the team.