Investigators are set to quiz the woman at the centre of the Christian Horner ‘sexting scandal’ this week as part an appeal after her complaints against the Red Bull boss were dismissed.
The woman, who was suspended from her job at the company’s UK headquarters, challenged the independent report that cleared Horner of any wrongdoing after she accused him of ‘coercive behaviour’.
A new barrister has reportedly been appointed to grill her ahead of the appeal and is due to speak to her within days.
The reinvestigation could also see Horner – who is married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – questioned on the matter again.
Allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by Horner were dropped just a day before the first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
But just 24 hours later, his alleged misconduct was plunged back into the spotlight, after what appeared to intimate WhatsApp exchanges allegedly sent by Horner to the female colleague were leaked to a number of key F1 figures and the media.
Bosses are unlikely to reveal the full investigation report into the scandal as both parties signed confidentiality clauses.
Speaking ahead of the appeal an F1 source told The Sun: ‘No one wants this to drag on any longer than it needs to.
The woman, who has been suspended on full pay, also changed lawyers – a precursor to her latest legal move.
‘Red Bull has made it clear that once the appeal is over, they are willing to be fully transparent.
‘They don’t want to do anything that compromises the process but when it’s done, the gloves are off.’
The woman has lodged a separate complaint against Horner with the FIA – the sport’s ruling body.
The female employee, it is believed, insists she was not the source of the explosive evidence. And someone close to her says she feels ‘let down’ by Red Bull and she has ‘behaved properly during the process.’
Jos Verstappen, father of world champion Max Verstappen, who is a known Horner critic, also denies leaking the information.
A friend of the woman exclusively told MailOnline: ‘She is so disappointed with how it’s all gone, especially as she did everything by the book.
‘She raised her concerns in private and did everything right, but she feels very let down by the company.
