Fiona Hewitson is a British motorsport professional whose career has included executive support and communications roles in Formula 1 and IndyCar. She became known for working as Christian Horner’s executive assistant at Red Bull Racing before joining Cadillac’s new Formula 1 project in 2025. Her career attracted considerable media attention following the investigation into allegations against Horner in 2024. After returning to the F1 paddock with Cadillac, she experienced another career change in 2026, when motorsport journalists confirmed her departure from the American team. Her professional history offers an insight into the people working behind the scenes in international motor racing.
Who Is Fiona Hewitson?
Fiona Hewitson is a former executive assistant at Red Bull Racing and Cadillac Formula 1. Her professional background spans racing-team administration, communications and support for senior motorsport figures.
She worked closely with Christian Horner during his time as Red Bull’s team principal. In 2025, she joined Cadillac’s Formula 1 operation, supporting its chief executive, Dan Towriss. Motorsport publication PlanetF1 subsequently confirmed in August 2026 that she had left that position.
Fiona Hewitson: Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Fiona Hewitson |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Motorsport executive assistant |
| Education | University of Edinburgh, as listed on her professional profile |
| Former F1 employers | Red Bull Racing and Cadillac Formula 1 |
| Red Bull position | Executive assistant to Christian Horner |
| Cadillac position | Executive assistant to Dan Towriss |
| Latest career development | Departure from Cadillac in 2026 |
Fiona Hewitson’s Career Before Red Bull Racing
Early experience in motorsport
Before joining Red Bull, Hewitson had professional experience in North American motorsport. A career profile published in March 2024 identifies KV Racing Technology and IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe among her earlier professional associations. Her LinkedIn profile also lists the University of Edinburgh as part of her educational background.
IndyCar and Formula 1 operate on different continents and under different sporting regulations, but both involve complicated international schedules, demanding travel arrangements and extensive commercial commitments.
For someone working in executive support, experience in these environments provides an understanding of the coordination required between drivers, management, sponsors and communications teams.
Working with Christian Horner at Red Bull
Hewitson subsequently became executive assistant to Christian Horner at Red Bull Racing. Her responsibilities involved administrative support, scheduling and coordination within the organisation.
During Horner’s leadership, Red Bull established itself as one of Formula 1’s most successful modern teams. Between 2005 and his departure in 2025, it secured eight drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships.
An executive assistant working alongside an F1 team principal must accommodate race weekends, factory commitments, meetings and international travel. The role often requires coordinating with people working across different time zones while managing rapidly changing schedules.
Hewitson’s position placed her within Red Bull’s senior management environment during a particularly successful period in the team’s history.
Fiona Hewitson and the Christian Horner Investigation
In February 2024, Red Bull confirmed that Horner was under investigation following allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by a female employee. The matter became one of Formula 1’s major off-track stories during the opening weeks of the season.
Horner denied the allegations, and Red Bull appointed an external lawyer to investigate. The company dismissed the grievance on 28 February 2024. The complainant appealed, but a subsequent independent review also dismissed her complaint.
Hewitson was identified in international motorsport coverage as the employee connected with the case, although the BBC and several other British news organisations chose not to identify the complainant.
What happened after the investigation?
In March 2024, Red Bull suspended the employee who had made the complaint. Reuters subsequently confirmed that she had appealed against the original investigation’s outcome.
The dispute continued after Red Bull’s internal processes had concluded, with the complainant pursuing an employment tribunal claim.
In October 2025, GPblog confirmed that the tribunal proceedings had ended following an out-of-court settlement. The agreement was described as being worth several million pounds, with other media coverage citing a figure of approximately £3 million. The complete financial terms were not made public.
A private settlement is not a court judgment establishing the allegations. Equally, Red Bull’s internal decisions should not be confused with a public tribunal ruling based on evidence examined in open court.
Christian Horner’s departure from Red Bull
Red Bull removed Horner from his operational duties on 9 July 2025 after 20 years as team principal. He was replaced by Laurent Mekies, who had previously led Racing Bulls.
Horner formally left the organisation in September 2025 after negotiating a severance agreement. Red Bull did not publicly establish a direct connection between his dismissal and the earlier employment dispute. His departure followed a period marked by internal management tensions and declining competitive performance.
Fiona Hewitson’s Return to F1 With Cadillac
Hewitson returned to the Formula 1 paddock in 2025 after taking a position supporting Dan Towriss, chief executive of the Cadillac F1 project.
She was photographed wearing Cadillac team clothing at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza in September 2025. Her appearance marked a new stage in her motorsport career following her time at Red Bull.
Cadillac was preparing to become Formula 1’s 11th team in 2026. The American project was backed by General Motors and TWG Motorsports and recruited experienced drivers Sergio Pérez and Valtteri Bottas for its inaugural season.
The organisation’s preparation involved recruiting staff, building facilities and coordinating operations in the United States and the United Kingdom. Hewitson’s appointment placed her alongside its senior executive leadership during that development.
What happened to Fiona Hewitson at Cadillac in 2026?
In August 2026, PlanetF1 reported that Hewitson had also left Cadillac shortly before the Formula 1 summer break. The publication described her departure as separate from the team’s decision to replace its founding team principal, Graeme Lowdon, with Marcin Budkowski.
No official explanation for Hewitson’s departure was disclosed in that report.
Cadillac’s wider management changes included the appointment of Budkowski in August 2026. Formula 1’s official website confirmed that the former Alpine executive had replaced Lowdon as the team entered the second half of its first championship season.
Timeline of Fiona Hewitson’s Formula 1 Career
| Period | Development |
|---|---|
| Before 2024 | Worked in motorsport administration and as Christian Horner’s executive assistant at Red Bull Racing. |
| February 2024 | Red Bull investigated allegations against Horner and subsequently dismissed the complaint. |
| March–August 2024 | The complainant was suspended; an appeal against the investigation’s outcome was later dismissed. |
| July 2025 | Horner was removed from his position as Red Bull team principal. |
| September 2025 | Hewitson appeared at Monza in her new role with Cadillac. |
| October 2025 | The employment tribunal proceedings ended following a reported settlement. |
| August 2026 | Motorsport reporting confirmed that Hewitson had departed Cadillac. |
The Role of Executive Assistants in Formula 1
Much of the work required to operate a Formula 1 team happens away from television cameras. While drivers, engineers and team principals are the most visible members of an organisation, executive assistants provide the administrative support that enables senior management to operate efficiently.
An assistant working with a senior F1 executive may coordinate international travel, manage appointments, organise meetings and communicate across departments.
These responsibilities become particularly demanding during the racing season, when teams frequently travel between countries and operate according to tightly controlled schedules.
Hewitson’s professional experience at Red Bull and Cadillac illustrates the range of administrative roles available within elite motorsport, beyond driving and technical engineering.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fiona Hewitson
1. Who is Fiona Hewitson?
Fiona Hewitson is a British motorsport professional who worked as an executive assistant to Christian Horner at Red Bull Racing and later to Dan Towriss at Cadillac F1.
2. Did Fiona Hewitson work for Christian Horner?
Yes. Hewitson was Horner’s executive assistant during his tenure as Red Bull Racing team principal. Her role involved administrative support and coordination within the racing organisation.
3. Did Fiona Hewitson receive a settlement from Red Bull?
Motor racing publications reported that the employment dispute involving Horner’s former assistant ended with an out-of-court agreement in October 2025. Media coverage cited a settlement of approximately £3 million, although the complete terms were not publicly disclosed.
4. Is Fiona Hewitson still working for Cadillac F1?
PlanetF1 reported on 29 August 2026 that Hewitson had left her position as Dan Towriss’ personal assistant shortly before the Formula 1 summer break. The publication did not establish the reason for her departure.
5. What is Fiona Hewitson’s educational background?
Her professional LinkedIn profile lists the University of Edinburgh. Career profiles also describe experience in sports communications, IndyCar and motorsport executive administration.
Conclusion
Fiona Hewitson’s career has taken her from motorsport support roles to working alongside senior executives at Red Bull Racing and Cadillac Formula 1. Her time at Red Bull became associated with the 2024 Christian Horner investigation, while her appointment at Cadillac provided another opportunity in the sport. Her departure from Cadillac in 2026 marked the end of that particular role. Her career also draws attention to the administrative and communications professionals whose work supports the complex operation of international racing teams.