Guenther Steiner hopes Red Bull ‘put an end’ to the row engulfing Christian Horner, with the team principal’s ‘sex texts’ scandal overshadowing the start of the Formula One season.

Red Bull team boss Horner was accused of ‘coercive behaviour’ by an unnamed female employee before he was cleared by a lawyer hired by the motorsports team to investigate.

However, the woman has since launched an appeal against the outcome after she was suspended by the team for giving ‘dishonest’ evidence.

The Formula One circus is rolling into Melbourne this weekend for the third race of the season but Horner’s off-track drama remains the topic of conversation, and former Haas boss Steiner hopes that the saga will end soon.

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Guenther Steiner hopes there is an ‘end’ to the Christian Horner scandal soon

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Horner (right) has been under the spotlight amid a ‘sex texts’ scandal

Reflecting on the mood inside Red Bull, he told ABC Sport: ‘In the higher ranks of the company, there will be… some people rethinking what they want to do,’ he said.

‘I hope that for the sake of Formula One … they put an end to it … and we move on.’

Steiner has picked up work as a television commentator since being relieved of his duties by Haas over the off-season, and will be in the paddock for the Albert Park race this weekend.

He is taking his time away from the cut and thrust of the sport to consider his next move.

‘I don’t know if I want to be back as a team principal,’ he admitted.

‘Maybe setting up a new team, for the new era of Formula One … that could be an opportunity.’