Red Bull team principal Christian Horner should resign, according to a British F1 legend, amid allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ made against him.

An internal investigation was carried out prior to the 2024 season following a complaint made by a female employee at Red Bull, and Horner, who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was cleared of any wrongdoing just a day before the first practice session ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

However, texts allegedly sent by Horner to his female colleague were then leaked to a number of key F1 figures and the media just 24 hours later, bringing his conduct back into the spotlight.

Horner, 50, has continued to maintain his innocence and his Red Bull team have made a dominant start to the season by securing successive one-two finishes, but doubts have emerged over the future of their star driver Max Verstappen.

Johnny Herbert, who raced in F1 for more than a decade and is now a pundit for Sky Sports, believes the scandal surrounding Horner is an unwelcome distraction for the sport and has urged the Red Bull chief to step down, while also claiming he has heard Verstappen could soon make a sensational switch to a rival team.

Christian Horner (right) has been accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a female colleague, but his wife Geri Halliwell (left) has stood by him

Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation, but that verdict has now been appealed, and Johnny Herbert (pictured) has called for the Red Bull chief to resign

Herbert has also claimed Max Verstappen is ‘very close’ to leaving Red Bull to join Mercedes

‘It’s not a good thing for F1 with the whole thing going on and the belated heat on it,’ Herbert told The Sun.

‘It doesn’t help the situation for Red Bull who have the best driver in the world at the present time.

‘And they’re very close to pushing [Max Verstappen] out off the team, I’ve heard they are getting quite close with the deal with Mercedes. It seems like a stupid thing to do, their biggest asset is not the Christian Horner show.

‘It would be crazy for Max to leave because of the situation. Jos has said it will be very destructive and rip it apart and I think it’s gone on for far too long. In some respects, Christian should really think about it and step aside.’

Verstappen’s father, Jos, reportedly told friends recently that his son will leave Red Bull if he has to, identifying Mercedes as a possible option, and Herbert appears to feel this move is genuinely on the cards.

A free seat is set to become available at Mercedes at the end of the season, with Lewis Hamilton due to join Ferrari ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Herbert is not the only high-profile name to call for Horner to resign, as Michael Schumacher’s brother Ralf also believes he must leave his position.

Ralf recently accused Horner of causing ‘immense damage’ at Red Bull, and slammed the husband of Halliwell for ‘portraying himself as a victim’.

Horner and Halliwell held hands on race day in Bahrain in a public show of unity

But Ralf Schumacher (pictured) has also called for Horner to resign and has slammed his conduct

Halliwell has stood by Horner in recent weeks, with the couple delivering a public display of unity by holding hands on race day at the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this month.

But Horner is not out of the woods just yet, as his accuser has launched an appeal against Red Bull’s investigation that cleared him of any wrongdoing.

She is reportedly unhappy that she was not shown the full sex-text dossier before the internal inquiry reached their verdict.

Following a break last weekend, F1 is set to resume this week with Horner and co arriving in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.