The woman at the centre of the scandal that almost brought down Christian Horner last year is back working in Formula One, after Daily Mail Sport reported exclusively in July that she had found a new role in motorsport.
The 'female employee', as she was usually referred to in media reports, made accusations of inappropriate and coercive behaviour of a sexual nature against then Red Bull team principal Horner.
She has not been named by Daily Mail Sport for legal reasons, and her identity remains a secret from the public.
Daily Mail Sport revealed that the woman had landed a new job in motorsport, having been suspended by Red Bull following the closure of the investigations. Horner, husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was cleared of misconduct by two separate investigations led by KCs.
Last month, 51-year-old Horner effectively left Red Bull after 20 years in charge, during which time he led them to 14 world titles. He was not given an explanation for being 'released from operational duties'.
But while Horner looks for his next job, the woman - according to the BBC - is back working in the division of the sport she was previously involved in, having made accusations against Horner in December 2023.
The woman accused team principal Horner of 'coercive behaviour' – a claim he was cleared of in an internal inquiry before WhatsApps of a supposedly suggestive nature were leaked the following day.
Horner later faced reporters and admitted that the saga had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions on the woman at the centre of it.
He also said his wife Halliwell had been 'hugely supportive' but admitted the scandal had been 'very trying' on his family.
'It's obviously been a very trying period,' he said. 'I'm married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed upon your marriage.
'I'm very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and very supportive wife. Of course, It's very trying, it's very challenging. When there's children involved, parents, families, it's not pretty.'
He added that the grievance had been 'dealt with in the most professional manner' by Red Bull's parent company GmbH, which had appointed one of the top 'KCs in the land'.
'He interviewed all of the people involved, as well as others of interest. He looked at everything and he came to the conclusion where he dismissed the grievance. As far as I am concerned, and as far as Red Bull are concerned, we moved on and we look to the future. The time now is to draw a line under it.'
A file allegedly containing texts and images was leaked to almost 200 people involved in the sport, including owners Liberty Media, team principals and the media.
Horner was exonerated for a second time after the female employee appealed against the findings of the investigation, which were upheld.
An independent lawyer interviewed Horner for almost nine hours, it is understood.
Netflix's most recent series of its hugely-successful Drive to Survive programme revealed Horner's immediate reaction to the bombshell news of the alleged texts being leaked.
'The higher you rise, the sharper the knives,' he said.
'I've reached the top of my game and I never thought in a million years I'd have a challenge like this in my career,' Horner continued. 'It's a crucial time of year, in a job that I do, you're the front face of the organisation.
'You can either hide away or you can get out there and face it.'
On the track, Horner defiantly responded to the scandal by helping Verstappen deliver a fourth-successive world championship, although Red Bull fell short of the constructors' title to rivals McLaren.
That appeared to be the beginning of the end of Red Bull's sporting dominance, with McLaren now 324 points ahead of them in the constructors' standings for the 2025 season.
