LONDON — Christian Horner expressed his deep appreciation after being honored with an honorary award from King Charles III on Wednesday. This recognition comes following a Formula 1 season marked by the Red Bull team principal being exonerated from allegations of improper behavior by a former employee.

Horner received the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the king’s customary New Year List, acknowledging his significant contributions to the world of motorsport. The award ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace.

This event rounded off a remarkable year for Red Bull, with their driver Max Verstappen securing his fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship. However, the team’s achievements on the racetrack were occasionally eclipsed by the misconduct allegations faced by Horner.

In March, an independent investigation found Horner not guilty of the original claims, while Red Bull dismissed a subsequent appeal in August. The 51-year-old Horner reflected on the experience, stating it was a significant honor to receive the CBE, and expressed his gratitude during a post-ceremony talk with reporters. “It’s a very proud moment to be awarded this CBE,” he shared, accompanied by his wife, singer Geri Halliwell. “It’s extremely humbling.”

Additionally, Horner mentioned that he had a brief conversation with the king regarding Formula 1. “He was curious about how the season unfolded and had clearly followed some of the races,” Horner noted. “It was a pleasure to catch up.”