Christian Horner – latest: Jos Verstappen backs accuser and makes prediction on Red Bull chief’s future

“I sympathise with the woman, with all that she went through, but we will see what happens,” Jos Verstappen told MailOnline, referring to Horner’s accuser who has now been suspended. Horner was cleared of wrongdoing by an external investigation.

“Red Bull seem to know what they are doing with her, we will see. But I think it is for her to come out and see what happens. I’m not fully up to speed with what is happening with her.”

Christian Horner said the “intrusion on my family is now enough” after he was cleared of any wrongdoing in an internal investigation following a female colleague’s complaint of “inappropriate behaviour”.

Hundreds of WhatsApp messages allegedly between Horner and the female colleague were leaked a day later.

It emerged on Thursday (7 March) that the accuser was suspended, on full pay, with the decision said to be taken as a result of the findings of the internal probe.

Christian Horner demanded an end to the saga engulfing Red Bull and the world of Formula 1, imploring at the end of a highly-charged press conference: “The intrusion on my family is enough.”

The Red Bull team principal was speaking at a press conference a matter of hours after the female colleague who raised a complaint of “inappropriate behaviour” against the F1 boss was suspended by Red Bull Racing.

It emerged on Thursday that the accuser has been suspended, on full pay, with the decision said to be taken as a result of the findings of the internal probe. A Red Bull spokesperson stated: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter”.

“If such an important pillar falls away, it is not good for my situation and I have told the team that,” Verstappen said.

“He is an important part in my decision-making for the future. For me, Helmut has to stay. I have a lot of respect for him, and what we have achieved together. It goes very far.

“He has built this team together with Dietrich [Mateschitz] from day one. And he’s always been very loyal to the team, to everyone within the team, to make sure that everyone would keep their positions already from back in the day.

“I think it’s also very important, of course, that you give the man a lot of respect for what he has done. And that comes back also to loyalty, you know, and integrity. So, yeah, for sure, it’s important that he stays part of the team, also for me.”

Max Verstappen has sensationally threatened to quit Red Bull if Helmut Marko – who is at risk of suspension – is forced out of the team.

In another twist to the saga engulfing F1’s most dominant team, long-term motorsport adviser Marko could be suspended, according to reports.

Red Bull are undertaking a new investigation surrounding the various media leaks in the last month or so, including the leak of WhatsApp messages allegedly between Christian Horner and his female colleague, some of a sexually suggestive nature.

The BBC goes further, saying that Red Bull do indeed intend to suspend the 80-year-old, who is a close ally of Max and his father Jos.

And three-time world champion Verstappen, mere minutes after taking pole in Saudi Arabia, insisted his future at the team could depend on Marko’s position.

Winter said: “It is International Women’s Day – after recent news stories and headlines, it has not been easy to be a woman working in Formula 1.

“I’m personally very proud to be standing here as a woman working in motorsport and Formula 1, bringing you these shows and sharing this paddock with utterly brilliant women.

“From team personnel to fellow media and to drivers, too, all of whom should be celebrated yesterday and indeed every other day as too should wonderful male allies who are helping us make this sport a better and more inclusive space.

“This is round one of seven of F1 Academy… this whole paddock is fully behind it, the 10 teams lending their support. All seven rounds aligned with the Formula 1 calendar as well.

“It is not lost on us the significance that this opening round is held in Saudi Arabia – a kingdom in which it was illegal for women to drive before 2018.

“To the women and girls in motorsport, to the huge and growing numbers of female fans in this sport, here is a very good reminder for all of us. We are here to stay and we are right where we belong.”

F1 TV presenter Laura Winter produced a moving piece to camera in Saudi Arabia on International Women’s Day – admitting it has not been easy being a woman working in the sport in light of recent events.

The complainant still has the right to appeal the outcome of Red Bull’s internal investigation, which cleared Horner of any wrongdoing.

But after what has been a difficult month, with the role of women in Formula 1 brought back into the limelight, Winter sent a defiant message to those working in the sport and female fans, insisting: “We are here to stay and we are right where we belong.”

Verstappen snr and Horner were spotted in Bahrain having a robust exchange of views.

“He was saying to me ‘Do you trust me? I will do everything for your son’ and we were talking with our hands, we didn’t have a fight,” Jos Verstappen said.

“But on Friday we did have an argument in the office, and I walked out but, in the trailer, he came up to me and said, ‘Congratulations, good race’.’’

Asked whether Horner was right to call for F1 to move on from the saga, Verstappen snr replied: “I think it’s a bit too late for that now. If that’s what he wants, fine, but I don’t think it will be possible. I don’t want to talk too much more as it will create problems.

“But the most important thing for me is that Max is happy, that’s what counts for me, I just want him to be happy.

“All these things that are going on are having an influence on Max. He was third in the first practice, and all we hear about is Horner and what happened with his situation.

“In the press conference Horner gave the other day it was all about him and his problems when we should be talking about Max, the car, his performance and the race.

“I’ve already said I think it is causing problems if he stays.”