Christian Horner’s former assistant is believed to be Fiona Hewitson, the woman at the centre of the sex text scandal that shook Formula 1 earlier this year. According to Jonathan McEvoy’s report in the Daily Mail, the unnamed Red Bull employee at the heart of the controversy received a £3 million settlement in exchange for dropping her allegations and leaving the team, a deal that appears to have brought one of the most turbulent off-track sagas in recent Formula 1 history to a close.
Although the woman’s identity is legally protected, multiple sources in the paddock now believe it to be Hewitson, Horner’s former executive assistant. Her reappearance in the paddock, working alongside Dan Towriss, CEO of the new Cadillac F1 Team, during the Singapore Grand Prix, has only fuelled speculation.
This marks her return to the sport in a high-profile role, just months after her sudden departure from Red Bull.
Fiona Hewitson’s return to the Formula 1 paddock
Although the Daily Mail did not name the individual, it is widely believed within the paddock that Hewitson has resumed her Formula 1 career as an executive assistant to Towriss, the man leading Cadillac’s entry into the sport.
Her presence at the Singapore race weekend was interpreted as confirmation that she has moved on professionally, a quiet but symbolic comeback following months of speculation surrounding her involvement in the Horner affair.
Reports suggest that Hewitson accepted a £3 million settlement from Red Bull earlier this year in exchange for withdrawing her complaints and leaving the team. The payment effectively ended any legal disputes between her and the organisation. However, despite the anonymity granted under UK employment and harassment law, her new role within Formula 1 has led to renewed scrutiny and whispers about her past association with Horner.
Christian Horner’s downfall and exit from Red Bull
Horner, 51, was dismissed as Red Bull’s team principal in July, after almost two decades in charge. His departure came just weeks after he was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour in two separate investigations, one internal and one external. Red Bull GmbH, the Austrian parent company, announced his dismissal shortly after the British Grand Prix, providing no public explanation for the decision.
Horner joined Red Bull in 2005 when the team entered Formula 1. Under his leadership, the team achieved remarkable success, winning eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ titles during dominant eras led by Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. However, his reign ended amid controversy, political tension and leaks of alleged private messages, which reignited public debate despite the investigations having cleared him.
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The scandal and its aftermath
The WhatsApp messages, which were allegedly exchanged between Horner and an unnamed Red Bull employee, were published online just one day after Horner had been officially cleared by an external inquiry. The leak reignited intense scrutiny, throwing both Red Bull and Formula 1 into an uncomfortable global spotlight.
Throughout the saga, Horner maintained his innocence, describing the claims as unfounded. His wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 52, publicly supported him. The couple made several joint appearances in 2024, signalling unity in the face of widespread speculation about the future of their marriage.
According to insiders, Red Bull’s internal environment was increasingly divided at the time. While a faction within the Austrian leadership viewed Horner’s position as untenable, others in the Thai ownership group pushed for his retention. The tension came to a head at the Austrian Grand Prix, where poor results and boardroom pressure conspired to seal his fate. Max Verstappen retired following a collision with Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, while Yuki Tsunoda finished 16th — Red Bull’s worst performance of the season.
One week later, Horner was dismissed.
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Power struggles behind the scenes
According to the Daily Mail, Horner’s removal was as much about politics as it was about performance. Although he had been cleared of misconduct allegations, sources close to the team suggested that an increasing internal power struggle had rendered his position untenable.
Despite resistance from sections of the organisation closer to the F1 team’s UK base in Milton Keynes, the decision to part ways was ultimately made by Red Bull GmbH in Austria.
Horner reportedly received an £80 million severance package as part of his departure. It is believed that the deal includes restrictions preventing him from taking another role in Formula 1 until at least spring 2026. Nevertheless, he has reportedly expressed a strong desire to return to the sport once his contractual obligations have expired.
A possible route back for Horner
Horner has already approached several teams about a potential comeback. Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell told reporters that ‘Christian is ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment’, though he ruled out any current plans to hire him. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed that they had been approached, but nothing had come of it, while Alpine’s Steve Nielsen acknowledged that Horner’s long-time friend Flavio Briatore, now serving as the team’s interim boss, remained in contact with him.
Whether any of these discussions will lead to a return remains unclear. Horner’s vast experience and track record of success make him an appealing figure, but the reputational fallout from the scandal may still deter potential employers. His supporters, however, argue that Red Bull’s treatment of him was driven by internal politics rather than proven misconduct, and that his career should not end in exile.
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A legacy under scrutiny
Horner’s two decades at the helm of Red Bull saw him transform the team into one of Formula 1’s most successful operations. He was known for his strategic acumen, ruthless efficiency and ability to navigate the sport’s complex politics. However, the controversy has left an indelible mark on his legacy, forcing both Red Bull and Formula 1 to consider the balance between leadership accountability and corporate self-preservation.
As for the woman believed to be at the centre of the case, Fiona Hewitson, her quiet return to the paddock suggests an attempt to rebuild her career away from the scandal’s shadow. By aligning herself with the Cadillac F1 project, one of the sport’s most ambitious new ventures, she appears to have secured a path forward on her own terms.
Horner ‘is no longer involved in the sport’, but is actively exploring opportunities to return. Whether Formula 1’s tight-knit paddock will welcome him back and whether Hewitson’s new role can escape the long shadow of controversy remains to be seen. What is certain is that both figures, once entwined in scandal, now find themselves on the brink of new beginnings in a sport that rarely forgets.
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Mercedes’ long game with Russell and Antonelli – It seems that Mercedes has finally confirmed what the rest of the paddock already knew: that George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will be their driver pairing for 2026. Or, as Toto Wolff put it, in his trademark blend of confidence and mystery: ‘Both fixed.’ These words were uttered after the Singapore Grand Prix, although the official paperwork is still buried under a mountain of ‘details’.
Wolff, ever the perfectionist, assured Sky’s cameras that there was no drama, just administrative delay. “Good things take time,” he said, suggesting that the lawyers are arguing over coffee machine privileges in Brackley rather than any major contractual issues.
Fresh from a serene victory under the Singapore lights, Russell is driving like a man who knows his signature is already drying on the dotted line. For Wolff, the extension is merely a formality.
“George is truly outstanding this year,” he said. “When everything fits together, the car, the setup, the driver’s mindset, you get a dominant combination.”
In other words, Mercedes might not be as fast as McLaren or Red Bull everywhere, but when Russell clicks, he clicks hard…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
Clara specialises in human-interest storytelling, focusing on the individuals behind the sport, including drivers, engineers, and team personnel whose roles are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
Clara’s work brings depth and perspective to the sport, complementing news and analysis with stories that highlight the people behind the machinery.
Clara has a particular interest in how personal narratives intersect with performance, and how individual experiences shape outcomes across a Formula 1 season.
Interesting the writer here sees the “sexting” saga as a problem for a team embracing CH – but the one person who brought this into the open (FH) with her allegations HAS been employed in the same role for another team … Cadillac beware, huh!