Christian Horner accuser ‘appeals Red Bull probe & hires lawyer’ after F1 boss cleared by his team in ‘sext’ storm

THE female staffer who accused Red Bull chief Christian Horner of controlling behaviour has allegedly launched an appeal against the probe that saw him cleared.

The unnamed woman at the centre of the “sexting” storm was suspended last week and is said to be disappointed by how the racing team dealt with the scandal.

GettyThe female employee has reportedly launched an appeal against the internal probe that cleared Christian Horner of misconduct[/caption]

GettyThe staffer has since been suspended and is said to be upset by Red Bull’s decision[/caption]

Horner, 50, was cleared of misconduct towards a female colleague by an internal probe on February 28 – allegations he had always denied.

But now she is understood to have new legal representation and has appealed the decision of the investigation, according to The Times.

On March 7, the woman was suspended from Red Bull Racing HQ amid claims her “honesty was called into question.”

The reasons allegedly given to her where that there were inconsistencies in the evidence she had provided.

Red Bull Racing have been approached for comment.

On Thursday, a friend of the unnamed staffer told MailOnline: “She is so disappointed with how it’s all gone, especially as she did everything by the book.

“She raised her concerns in private and did everything right, but she feels very let down by the company.”

They added: “The lack of support is noted and she’s just so disappointed with the treatment from her employer.”

It comes after former F1 driver Christijan Albers warned a “lot more will surface” as he noted the Red Bull boss has a “terrifying amount of power” at the all-conquering team.

Speaking to the Dutch outlet De Telegraaf he said it was “terrifying” Horner holds so much control despite the bombshell allegations against him.

Albers said: “Because by the way it’s all being picked up and it’s just being waved away, then you make someone on the other side extra angry. I think a lot more will surface. 

“Then, still, [Horner has] this drive and envy to still be able to get that number one position and just chop everyone’s head off.”

Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s dad Jos, 52, has backed the suspended female employee and called for Horner to be axed, accusing him of ripping the team apart.

Despite the scandal, Horner has been putting forward a business-as-usual front in his £8million-a-year role.

The F1 chief and his Spice Girl wife Geri, 51, put a united – if awkward – front over the weekend in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking at the press conference the F1 chief said he was keen to “draw a line” under the scandal and that it was time to “focus on what is going on on track.”

Despite seemingly standing by her man throughout the drama, sources claim that Geri is “in turmoil” over the sexting drama.

The F1 season returns next week in Melbourne for the Australian GP and the off-track drama has done little to slow down the dominating Verstappen, who has won both races easily.

GettyJos Verstappen has called for Horner to be sacked amid the ongoing scandal[/caption]

GettyThe scandal has not deterred the dominance of three-time world champion Verstappen[/caption]

Horner and Geri put on a united front in Saudi Arabia over the weekend