Christian Horner, the former team principal of Red Bull Racing, has been “rewarded”—though perhaps that term is slightly hyperbolic—for parting ways with the team. Horner was the yin and yang of Red Bull Racing, entrusted with tremendous responsibility at a young age by the late Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Horner rewarded his backers by delivering eight Constructors’ and six Drivers’ titles.

But he squandered all that success by entangling himself in an employee harassment scandal, which ultimately proved too much for Red Bull’s last remaining backers—the Yoovidhya family, co-founders of Red Bull Energy Drinks. With key support gone, the Red Bull board moved swiftly to push Horner out.

Red Bull, however, honoured the dismissal terms and statutes of his contract, paying out a staggering $100 million to settle future wage liabilities. That figure likely also included performance bonuses and other clauses hidden in Horner’s deal. In effect, he was paid $100 million for harassing an employee.

Horner was formally dismissed on 22 September, after being relieved of his duties as team principal in July. Some reports place the settlement at $70 million, others at $100 million—either way, it remains an extraordinary sum.

Now speculation turns to what Christian Horner will do next. But what about the individual he harassed? Why is there so much quasi-sympathy for Horner and so little regard for the victim?

If he ever returns to the F1 paddock, he ought to hang his head in shame—but that won’t happen. Horner will be rehabilitated by the media, and inevitably, he will reappear.