Red Bull reign in Bahrain stays mainly in the pain

Now, if like Christian Horner, OBE, 51 – 32 years with Red Bull (in all that time, the Hornster has taken no long-service leave, never had a sickie or been off on compo), who shares houses with Ginger Spice, 51, soap dodger singer, songwriter, television personality, author and actor, and three miniature donkeys in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire, you thought “you beauty, the barrister employed by the Red Bull fizzy drink company to hold an independent investigation into what The Sun called sexually inappropriate behaviour has cleared me”, then you were in for a shock.

A day after the clearance, a suitcase full of screen shots, texts, pics, telexes, faxes, telegrams and WhatsApp messages from the Hornster to an unknown person who is probably of the opposite sex, was leaked to motoring journalists in every known and some unknown corners of the F1 world, which as you know remains flat because the laddies that run the F1 show stopped thinking about anything but themselves in 1962.

Some of these missives are sexually suggestive, some talked about Ginger but not the three miniature donkeys – but none had inappropriate pics.

Now the Red Bull values statement (and you know most companies’ vision and values state­ments are usually red bull) state: “Unsafe, discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour is never tolerated or overlooked” and “We will be held accountable and publish annual reports with our progress”.

I wouldn’t have a big bet on seeing this lack of progress published anywhere but Drive to Survive (now on Foxtel).

Of course, the bull doesn’t stop here. These days most sponsors actually care about hanky panky in the teams they sponsor.

Ford boss Jim Farley wrote to Red Bull (naturally leaked to the Associated Press): “We are frustrated by the lack of full transparency surrounding this matter with us, your corporate partners, and look forward to receiving a complete account of all findings.

“As we have indicated previously, without satisfactory response, Ford’s values are non-negotiable. It is imperative that our racing partners share and demonstrate a genuine commitment to those same values.”

Now the Hornster has been doing his best to avoid the media here, but you’d have to think that, unlike Sunday’s race, things are not going to go well for the goat and miniature donkey farmer. On Sunday the only surprise for the real team will be who comes in behind Mad Max.

Meanwhile, the old bloke and I are taking advantage of the weather and have paid $130 for two hours enjoying fun in the world’s largest indoor snow park housing an amazing 3000 sqm of snow. We’ve stuck on our snow boots and are enjoying the twin track bobsled runs, a snow cavern filled with interactive experiences, and tobogganing hills.

Mick says it’s the best fun he’s had since changing the timing chain on our BMW 3 series. “And a lot cheaper,” Mick added.

PS: Next week we’ll be directing Gina and the ACCC’s attention to the cost of spare parts and servicing from authorised dealers.

Forget F1, what’s happening with the global transition to electric cars? Well after 10 years and $14bn, the world’s most successful tech company has given up trying to make an Apple car.

At one stage, Mr Apple talked to Mr Musk about buying Tesla, but finally called dead on the project originally called Titan but known internally as Titanic, this week.

Also, this week, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr, 81, an American politician who is currently the President of the US and the rest of what passes for the free world, started trying to ban EVs made in China on the basis that they represented a trojan horse of technology that will allow the commies to track every visit you make to Maccas.

Of course, the real plot here is to protect American manufacturers from commie EVs that, like the original Toyotas, are too cheap and too good.

Right there in Amelia Island right now is the Broad Arrow auctions featuring more cars with more sex appeal than there are gentoo penguins in Bahrain.

There’s the enduro race-winning 1969 Porsche 908/02 Langheck Flunder Spyder for less than $7m, also one of just 60 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sports with only 400km on the clock is a steal at $6m and, one for the drug dealers, a Rosso Efesto/Carbon, with Nero Ade/Rosso Alala Alcantara interior 2021 Lamborghini Sian for a tad over $4.5m.

But be still my beating heart, 20 readers head straight to lot 229, the 1967 Ford GT40, one of 31 GT40 Mk I road cars and said to be worth $5m.

Here’s an interesting thought for you. The new GT40s have been selling at higher prices than the originals. This GT was delivered on February 24, wearing Opalescent Silver Blue over black, with the Mark I 289 small block inside, decorated with Weber carburettors, and the outside has Borrani wire wheels. I’m not too sure of the price on this car.

While I love GT40s, this one has a bit of concerning history. In 1972 the new owner was driving the car to his North Yorkshire home when he discovered, in a bad way, someone hadn’t closed the petrol cap. Petrol and hot brakes don’t go well together and the front was burnt. In the resto, parts of the chassis had to be replaced and the colour was changed and then changed back to the original.

If that’s all a bit much, there’s a nice red 1960 Porsche Diesel 217 Standard Tractor for $40k, or the 1974 Volkswagen Type 181 The Thing. “The Thing was meant to be a rugged, versatile and fun vehicle.

“The Thing boasted a selection of vibrant 1970s colour schemes, a removable soft top, removable doors, a foldable windshield, and a spartan interior ideal for easy clean-up after spirited adventures.

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