Horner has been at the centre of a probe by the Red Bull energy drinks company over claims of inappropriate behaviour made against him by a female employee.
Following an eight-week-long investigation by an independent barrister, it was announced on Wednesday night that the complaints against him had been dismissed as there was no evidence of any wrongdoing.
However, matters took a twist over the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend when anonymous emails were sent to senior F1 personnel, including team bosses, the FIA and FOM chiefs, and media, revealing an alleged dossier of documents at the centre of the matter.
Elements of those documents, the veracity of which has not been confirmed by Red Bull, have subsequently leaked out and grabbed headlines around the world.
There is understood to be some concern within both F1 management and the FIA about the global focus on the Horner developments overshadowing the start of the grand prix season.
These worries have been heightened by the fact that the anonymous leaks point to there being parties focused on embarrassing Horner to force him to step down – which is a campaign that could last weeks.
Horner met with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and Ben Sulayem ahead of qualifying in Bahrain on Friday, where the trio are understood to have discussed the situation and what happens next.
Source: Autosport