This is the moment F1 boss Christian Horner places his hand on the waist of his wife Geri Halliwell after they met in Bahrain, as he faces fresh calls to resign amid text row of leaked explosive text.
Just 24 hours after Horner was cleared to continue at the helm of Red Bull following an internal investigation into “inappropriate behaviour” by the F1 team’s parent company, Red Bull GmbH, the F1 boss found himself in hot water one day. once again.
Hundreds of WhatsApp messages that Horner allegedly wrote to a colleague were leaked.
The 50-year-old’s wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, reportedly “read him the riot card” before putting on a show of unity with him in front of cameras in Bahrain.
A video posted to TikTok shows the couple seemingly “together and in love” as he is seen placing his hand on her waist.
However, sources claim she is still “furious” that her husband had claimed the messages were part of a “workplace dispute,” something the leaks appear to contradict.
This is the moment F1 boss Christian Horner puts his hand on his wife’s waist
Christian and Geri Horner after Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix
Christian and Geri kiss before the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit
The Red Bull boss had been celebrating after his team took first and second place in the opening race of the season, with reigning champion Max Verstappen the first winner.
However, questions continue to arise as the fallout from the alleged leaked messages continues.
Horner has always publicly denied allegations of wrongdoing and told Sky Sports F1 he was committed to continuing as team principal following a successful weekend at professional level.
He said: ‘We have tremendous support, tremendous partners and great shareholders behind us as well.
“These types of results are not achieved if we are not united.”
Before the race, Horner and his wife Geri, to whom he has been married since 2015, were seen in a public display of unity.
Horner had emerged from the rear of Red Bull’s hospitality suite through a door to greet her when she arrived at the main entrance to the paddock.
They then held hands as they walked through the paddock to Red Bull’s hospitality suite. During the short walk they were harassed by photographers and television crews.
Horner was cleared of wrongdoing in an internal investigation on Wednesday.
Horner stands behind his wife as Red Bull celebrates taking first and second place.
The pair were all smiles at lunch, where they were later joined by Red Bull communications chief and former F1 team principal Flavio Briatore and Red Bull majority shareholder and Horner ally, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya .
Horner headed to the race grid about 45 minutes before the 3pm start and gave Geri a kiss as he left.
Sources claim the former Spice Girls singer is “furious” with her husband, but has not gone “nuclear.”
A source told The Sun: “The leak of the texts moved the goalposts and Geri was furious about it.”
“When Christian first told him the situation, he said he had gotten into a fight with a woman who wanted a promotion and more responsibility at Red Bull.
“So he sold it to Geri as a workplace fight and she accepted it. So now Geri is furious because there seems to be something more to this.
Friends of Halliwell, who has a son, Montague George Hector Horner with her husband, previously told the publication that she had “read him the riot card” about the situation.
They said: ‘There are questions about her future with him and she let him know in very clear terms. It’s unclear if her marriage will survive, but she’s giving him a good chance by showing her support, at least in public.
But deep down she must be hurt, humiliated and very, very angry. However, this at least shows that she hasn’t gone nuclear and she went to the first expensive divorce lawyer she could find.
Sources claim the former Spice Girl singer is ‘furious’ with her husband
Red Bull Formula One driver Max Verstappen celebrates his victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Horner, who has always denied the allegations, previously said: “I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife, an incredible team and everyone within that team.”
“And my focus is on competing, winning races and doing the best I can.”
‘It was a day to start the season in the best possible way. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing.”
The WhatsApp messages were sent from an anonymous email account to 149 members of the F1 paddock, including the sport’s governing body president Mohammed ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the other nine directors. of the gridiron team, as well as members of the media. .
Horner continues to carry out his role as team principal and chief executive, although it is understood that there is considerable disquiet among the team’s large number of sponsors and partners.
He spoke only once about the latest allegations while heading from Red Bull’s hospitality suite to the team’s garage on Friday.
“I am not going to comment on anonymous speculation from unknown sources,” he said.
When asked what comes next, Horner replied: “We’re going to compete.”