Woman at centre of Christian Horner 'sex texts' scandal launches appeal against Red Bull's investigation that cleared Geri Halliwell's husband of 'inappropriate behaviour' and led to her suspension for 'dishonesty'

The women at the centre of the Red Bull texting scandal today launched an appeal against the company’s findings, Mail Sport can reveal.

The unnamed employee originally accused team boss Christian Horner of ‘coercive behaviour’ but an internal inquiry involving a KC cleared him of wrongdoing last month and he remained in charge for the opening two races of the season.

He is also due to be in post for the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne a week on Saturday. But he is facing further pressure with news of the appeal, which has been lodged with parent company, Red Bull GmbH, in Salzburg, rather than with the Milton Keynes-based racing team.

The woman, who has been suspended on full pay, has recently changed lawyers – a precursor to her latest legal move.

Messages purporting to be her exchanges with Horner, the 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, were leaked the day after the inquiry exonerated him.

The woman who accused Christian Horner of 'inappropriate behaviour' is appealing the decision to clear the Red Bull team principal 

Horner (pictured with his partner Geri Halliwell) had been accused of 'coercive behaviour' towards a female employee, but was subsequently cleared of wrong doing

Horner is pictured talking with Red Bull CEO Franz Watzlawick at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, after key stakeholders said that the pit boss would not be sacked before the Australian GP

The suggestive WhatsApp correspondence was sent from an anonymous email address to 149 figures in Formula One.

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.

No timeframe for the appeal has yet been established, and a Red Bull Racing spokesman said last night they were unaware of the development, adding: ‘It is a matter for Red Bull GmbH.’

A friend of the woman had 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.

'They have suspended her when she followed the proper process diligently and correctly.' 

Earlier this week, Red Bull denied claims that Horner would be sacked before Formula One's next Grand Prix in Australia on March 24. 

Reports claim shareholders from the Milton Keynes-based racing outfit met in Dubai on Sunday after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in which Max Verstappen had cruised to victory in Jeddah, his second win of the year. The stakeholders, meanwhile, were aligned in the view that Horner should stay in his role. 

Horner's wife Halliwell has continued to show support to the team principal 

Reports also emerged that Helmut Marko (left) could be suspended after claims were made that he was leaking information on the ongoing situation surrounding Horner, claims he denied

'As Christian has said, he is grateful for the full support of the shareholders and that remains the case,' a Red Bull spokesperson said. 

Three-time world champion, Verstappen, has meanwhile called for 'peace' at the racing team, amid the ongoing situation. 

It came after he had threatened to walk away from Red Bull, if advisor Helmut Marko were to be suspended after claims were made he had been leaking information to the media.

Marko has since insisted that he will be staying at Red Bull, with the 80-year-old motorsport advisor having held talks over his future with Red Bull head of sport Oliver Mintzlaff in the Jeddah paddock. 

'I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace,' Verstappen said.

'And that's what we, I think, all agree on within the team. So hopefully, from now on, that is also fully the case.

'Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn't hurt out performances. So it's a very strong team. 

Red Bull and Max Verstappen continue to dominate on the track despite the team's off-track dramas

'I think also mentally, what you can see from not only the driver's side, but also mechanics, engineers, everyone is there to do their job.

'And I think everyone, even when there is stuff going on or whatever, they're just focused on their job as they should be.'