Former F1 star Christijan Albers has fired a warning to Christian Horner, expressing a belief the saga surrounding the 50-year-old could 'continue throughout the year'.
Horner has been cleared of misconduct by Red Bull, having always denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
But the Briton's accuser is appealing the verdict of the F1 side and wants their initial decision to be overturned.
Horner has continued to work as normal, with the 50-year-old overseeing the first three races of the new season in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Christian Horner has received a warning from a former F1 star as the Japanese Grand Prix creeps closer
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The Red Bull chief, who is married to Spice Girls icon Geri Halliwell, is currently preparing for next weekend's Grand Prix in Japan.
There have been claims Horner, Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko have all agreed to a public ceasefire, despite the turbulence behind the scenes.
But Albers, speaking to De Telegraaf, thinks the saga and in-fighting will continue 'throughout the year'.
“That is also still not over and that will continue throughout the year as well," he told the publication's F1 podcast.
"Only they will have agreed more with each other to make that less noticeable.
“They have noticed that if they address their confidants all in the paddock, it still secretly becomes a mess anyway because everyone is chattering anyway and you see how that works in the Formula 1 world.
“It’s just a piranha world and we have a few sharks swimming in between.”
Red Bull have enjoyed a positive start to the new season, for the most part.
Verstappen won the first two races of the campaign, with the 26-year-old hunting a fourth F1 title on the trot.
But he endured a nightmare race in Australia last time out, with the Dutchman unable to finish following a brake fire.
Reports earlier this week have claimed Horner's accuser wants to return to Red Bull.
She is currently suspended on full pay, though the team haven't disclosed any details as to why she's not currently working with the team.
Should her case fail, she is reportedly ready to take her case to an employment tribunal.
She is currently awaiting a response from the FIA after complaining to the F1 governing body about Horner.
And a source has told The Independent that she's 'in it for the long haul'.
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Christian Horner has continued to work as normal with the Red Bull chief overseeing the first three races of the new F1 season
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“She remains resolute and is in it for the long haul," they're quoted as saying.
"She’s holding her council for now and wants the matter dealt with privately.”
Horner previously worked with Sebastian Vettel, who won four F1 titles on the spin between 2010 and 2013 while driving for Red Bull.
Yet the German kept his cards close to his chest when asked about his old boss earlier this week.
"There is of course a lot of unrest at the moment," he admitted.
Christian Horner has always denied allegations of misconduct with the Red Bull chief confident of staying in his job
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"But I think from a sporting perspective there is currently no reason for him to think about anything else.
"I know the team, Christian [Horner] and Helmut Marko very well from my time, but it is very difficult for me to have an opinion because you don't know what did and what did not happen."
Vettel did, however, admit that more transparency is needed.
He added: "I think you would like a bit more transparency in that respect, but I hope that time will clear it all up."
