Christian Horner watches WIN at Bahrain Grand Prix as Geri kisses him

Embattled Red Bull chief Christian Horner watched Max Verstappen win the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday on an action-packed day that additionally noticed his ex-Spice Girl spouse Geri Halliwell kiss him.

Red Bull’s Verstappen got here first, whereas teammate Sergio Perez completed second. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz took the chequered flag in third, one place forward of teammate Charles Leclerc with George Russell and Lewis Hamilton a disappointing fifth and seventh respectively for Mercedes. McLaren’s Lando Norris completed sixth.

Halliwell shared a kiss together with her beleaguered husband on the Bahrain Grand Prix in the present day in a present of solidarity after leaked textual content messages rocked Formula One. 

It appeared that Christian Horner leaned in to kiss his spouse in full view of the cameras because the world watched their response to the controversy that has rocked Formula One.

After they kissed, Halliwell appeared to look instantly at photographers. 

Her husband, Red Bull F1 chief Horner, has confronted allegations regarding tons of of WhatsApp messages that seemed to be written by him to a feminine colleague.

Horner was cleared to proceed as Red Bull head following an inside probe into ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by the F1 workforce’s father or mother firm, Red Bull GmbH. The 50-year-old has at all times denied the claims. 

The embattled Red Bull F1 boss initially broke cowl on the Grand Prix on Saturday morning with no signal of his spouse Geri Halliwell after his spouse discovered the texts have been leaked as she was flying in a personal jet.

Yet the couple walked hand-in-hand within the Paddock forward of the season opener in Bahrain. Halliwell appeared red-eyed as she placed on a courageous face, smiling whereas her husband clenched her hand. 

Geri opted for a sleeveless egg shell, knee-length costume that includes bandage element within the form of chevrons round her waist.

She paired her knee-length costume with a pair of £780 nude peep-toe excessive heels by Christian Louboutin.

The former singer accomplished her timeless ensemble with a sq. black purse.

Geri styled her auburn hair in unfastened waves and saved her jewelry minimal aside from a pair of diamond stud earrings. 

Earlier this week, Halliwell, 51, and her husband, 50, had breathed a collective sigh of reduction on Wednesday when Red Bull cleared Horner of inappropriate behaviour allegations which have been made by a feminine worker.

But 24 hours later, flirtatious WhatsApp messages apparently exchanged between Horner and the feminine complainant have been leaked to 149 F1 figures whereas Halliwell was on a flight to see her husband forward of this weekend’s season opener in Bahrain.

An insider beforehand advised the Mail it will be ‘mayhem’ if Geri confirmed her face at Saturday’s Grand Prix. 

However, Red Bull confirmed to Mail Sport on Saturday that the previous Spice Girl might be on the grid and he or she was seen at round 1.20pm together with her F1 boss husband.

Geri Halliwell is holding ‘disaster talks’ over Christian Horner‘s leaked textual content messages and didn’t need to meet her husband in Bahrain till she was talked into it by his household, sources claimed final night time.

She jetted over to Bahrain from the UK in a personal jet on Friday.

This morning, she was nowhere to be seen as her husband Christian Horner was pictured in black sun shades and a Red Bull outfit.

Red Bull staff are reportedly afraid that extra messages could also be leaked.

Halliwell, who married the Red Bull workforce principal in 2015, went ‘into meltdown’ when she touched down within the Gulf state on a personal jet on Thursday and found the bombshell messages had been plastered throughout social media.

The 51-year-old singer has a son, Montague George Hector Horner, with Horner.

She additionally has a daughter, Bluebell Madonna, born in 2006, with former accomplice and screenwriter Sacha Gervasi.

The president of Formula 1’s governing physique advised the Financial Times the controversy round Red Bull workforce principal Christian Horner is damaging the game.

Yet he stated that the FIA will not conduct its personal inquiry until it receives a grievance.

On Saturday morning, Horner was seen alone in his Red Bull get-up whereas carrying a brown leather-based bag on the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. 

Halliwell is known to have identified about and authorized of the lady working for her husband’s workforce.

Friends of the star advised Mail+ they’re ‘deeply involved’ about her and stated the singer appeared ‘fragile’ after they noticed her some weeks in the past. 

Ahead of Saturday’s season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Horner arrived on the F1 paddock holding fingers together with his spouse Geri Halliwell, who is healthier often known as Ginger Spice of the pop group the Spice Girls.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated any grievance lodged with its compliance officer could be investigated however it had not acquired one associated to Horner’s scenario and wouldn’t ‘soar the gun,’ the Financial Times reported.

‘It’s damaging the game,’ Ben Sulayem advised the newspaper, which added that he was talking Friday after a gathering with Horner. ‘This is damaging on a human degree.’

Horner has denied wrongdoing and stated in a press release issued Thursday that he wouldn’t ‘touch upon nameless hypothesis.’

Three-time defending champion Max Verstappen stated after qualifying on pole place Friday that Horner was ‘totally dedicated to the workforce’ however that his workforce principal was additionally ‘in all probability a bit of bit distracted.’

After claiming his fifty fifth profession win in the present day, he stated: ‘Unbelievable. Today went even higher than anticipated. The automotive was very nice to drive. We had lots of tempo. It was tremendous gratifying.’ 

Geri Horner confirmed ‘stress’ in direction of Christian in Bahrain and was the one ‘driving their PR response’ to her husband’s leaked textual content message scandal, a physique language professional claimed on Saturday.

Speaking to FEMAIL, physique language professional Judi James stated that Geri tried to convey ‘resilience’ and wished to miss her husband’s leaked textual content message scandal on the races in the present day.

The professional stated: ‘Geri’s demure, barely lip-clamped smile is clearly supposed to sign resilience and a message of ‘ignore’ to all the present tales swirling about her husband. 

‘This show of loyalty incorporates a number of incongruent alerts to trace at interior stress from her and a few awkward nervousness from him, although.

‘Her smile doesn’t attain her eyes suggesting a scarcity of real happiness.’

On prime of this, the professional highlighted how Geri was taking the lead with their public show of unity. 

She continued: ‘Their hand clasp seems led by her as it’s pulled nearer to her physique in some pictures, suggesting she’s the one driving this PR response. 

‘He in the meantime has one hand shoved into his pocket making a gesture that may typically counsel a need to cover.’

What’s extra, Judi additionally famous how the couple’s hand-holding may very well be interpreted as one other signal of stress. 

Judi defined: ‘Christian shoves one hand in his pocket to feign nonchalance however an in depth up of their hand clasp exhibits his knuckles are white as he holds her hand tightly sufficient to counsel stress. 

‘Her hand is cupped upward suggesting compliance and settlement and her fingers are curled spherical his hand to implement that tight grip. 

As nicely as Geri’s smile ‘missing real happiness’, Judi claimed Christian’s physique language was equally performative. 

The professional stated: ‘His smile seems carried out and awkward whereas hers solely includes a curling upward of the lips with no eye smile to make it look congruent.’ 

Judi additionally famous how Geri and Christian’s kiss was ‘awkward’ and should have been PR ‘overkill’ to quash any rumours of their marriage being in disaster.

She continued: ‘The kiss seems barely awkward, which it will are usually with all of the digital camera curiosity. It may additionally have been overkill. 

‘When you are performing below strain it is typically greatest to maintain your physique language easy with possibly simply an exchanged loving smile.

A supply advised The Mirror final night time: ‘Geri has been locked in disaster talks together with her workforce this week about find out how to handle all of this.’ 

While Horner is claimed to have ‘performed down’ the drama to his spouse, ‘she will’t bear the actual fact it’s now all out within the open’.

The supply stated that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner, ‘looks like a idiot’, including: ‘It has actually taken its toll on her and he or she advised buddies this week she wouldn’t be in Bahrain.’ 

The supply stated that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner, ‘looks like a idiot’, including: ‘It has actually taken its toll on her and he or she advised buddies this week she wouldn’t be in Bahrain.’

It’s understood that the singer was adamant on not assembly her husband however Horner’s mom has been pleading together with her to publicly again him in a present of solidarity. 

In stark distinction, her personal workforce is claimed to be urging her to maintain her distance as they concern her model and repute may very well be tarnished. The supply claimed that Halliwell is ‘torn’ between each camps. 

The Sun studies that Halliwell knew of the feminine worker on the centre of the drama, with Red Bull insiders claiming that she even authorized of the lady working for her husband’s workforce.

A supply near the Spice Girl advised the newspaper this was ‘humiliation on a global scale’. They stated: ‘Of course, to go away Christian — and stroll away from the blissful life they’ve constructed for themselves — could be the final word act of lady energy.

‘But as anybody with youngsters is aware of — to not point out a hinterland of affection and connection — that’s simpler stated than accomplished.’

It’s additionally reported that Halliwell has reduce herself off from the Spice Girls, who have been set to be reunited quickly to debate tour dates for a comeback.

The lady band, minus Victoria Beckham, have been set to mark their 30-year anniversary with some exhibits this yr however sources say that is now unlikely. 

An F1 supply additionally stated that Red Bull staff are fearing there could also be extra leaked messages to come back, which might overshadow world champion Max Verstappen’s bid to win the Bahrain Grand Prix.

It’s believed that the drama has put the couple’s marriage ‘in query for the primary time’.

The world champion was 0.228 seconds faster than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in second, whereas Mercedes’ George Russell got here third and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton needed to accept ninth.

Horner might be on the pre-race grid alongside his main ally on the Red Bull board, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns 51 per cent of the power drinks firm. 

Halliwell was pictured hugging Chalerm’s spouse Daranee Yoovidhya forward of the race in the present day. 

One insider advised Mail Sport forward of the GP: ‘She [Halliwell] took off earlier than the e-mail landed.

‘I do not know whether or not she might be on the race however will probably be mayhem if she is.

‘It could be nuts. 

‘She might even be flying dwelling.’

As she arrived, her husband was pulled from the pit wall into a gathering with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. 

The couple had breathed a collective sigh of reduction on Wednesday when Red Bull cleared Horner of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour allegations following a probe into his alleged relationship with the worker.

But the complainant fired again on Thursday, as a supply near her advised MailOnline that she was ‘very sad’ at Red Bull’s determination to clear the F1 boss.

A relative of the feminine worker stated: ‘My response to all that is that it’s disgusting. In the phrases of Red Bull, Christian Horner has been cleared however I believe many individuals take a look at that reply and may’t fairly fathom out the reality behind it. 

‘It’s clearly not going to relaxation now due to these leaks. I wasn’t conscious of the messages previous to them being picked up by the media and I do not know in any respect who’s answerable for the leak.

‘You at all times imagine your individual, do not you? I have never learn the textual content messages however there was by no means any relationship between her and Christian – God, no. She would not focus on that kind of stuff with us.

‘If you’re employed for an individual like him, you reside with many items of data that aren’t to be disclosed. She definitely hasn’t spoken to me about it.’

The supply went on: ‘We communicate day by day and he or she’s very sad – after all. In her mind-set it is all very one-sided and he or she’s been crucified.

‘Are the Red Bull investigation workforce impartial? Who is aware of? They’ve made comparisons within the newspapers about Christian being grilled for 12 hours or so…nicely what number of hours was she grilled for? They do not ask that query, however it’s much more than that.’ 

On Thursday, a collection of WhatsApp texts and pictures have been launched to dozens of journalists and key figures in sport, throwing the allegations again into the general public into the highlight as soon as once more.

Horner has vowed to battle on and was pictured in his Red Bull gear forward of observe for the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday.

It comes as associates near Halliwell, who stood by her husband of 9 years resolutely all through the interior probe, revealed she is ‘having the meltdown to finish all meltdowns over the leaks’.

The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages have been unfold ‘so extensively on the market’, a pal added.

Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague have been launched through an nameless e mail account.

Horner was solely cleared by Red Bull’s Salzburg-based father or mother firm – and advised he may keep on as workforce principal of the world-championship on a £8million-a-year-salary – 24 hours earlier than the texts dropped.

Halliwell had advised associates that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims towards her accomplice, with whom she shares seven-year-old son Monty, had lastly been dropped.

Friends of the Spice Girl advised the Mail she thought the drama had ‘lastly gone away’ however have warned the looks of the intimate messages – to which there are 79 screenshots – may ‘destroy’ her.

One stated: ‘All alongside Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

Another stated he now fears for the way the star, who has been left mortified on the embarrassing fall out, will be capable to comprehend such a public humiliation.

He stated: ‘Geri has been residing on this glad, glad bubble for thus a few years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour however now this.

‘She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she realized Christian had been cleared.

‘Geri was pilloried when she received along with Christian as a result of he had simply had one other child with one other girl however she has labored arduous to rid that picture of herself and Christian, and particularly that she is a homewrecker.

‘Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment got here in on Wednesday, now they completely can have began once more. 

‘This will destroy her. All alongside Christian promised there was nothing in it.’

One supply near the star stated that she ‘wasn’t positive what to imagine’ all through the saga however was decided to get by way of it with their marriage unscathed.

‘Geri isn’t any fish spouse however she lastly received the person she wished and he or she will not need to let him go. This may find yourself being an enormous dilemma for her,’ the supply stated.

The tranche of messages have been despatched to FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem and F1 chief govt Stefano Domenicali. All the workforce principals have been copied in, together with star driver Max Verstappen’s father Jos.

Earlier this month Halliwell had briefly unfollowed world champion Verstappen on Instagram after the allegations towards Horner first got here to mild. Sources near the star stated on Thursday night time that this was an ’emotional response’ which she thought would go unnoticed.

Reigning world champion Verstappen was quizzed forward of the Bahrain Grand Prix over whether or not Red Bull’s probe into Horner had impacted or altered the workforce’s preparations for the season.

The Dutchman, insisting that his focus has not been altered, replied: ‘It would not. I’m very targeted on simply the efficiency of the automotive and myself.

‘Hopefully will probably be resolved very quickly. It’s a complete workforce effort that everybody has to stay collectively and work to extra success, in order that’s why it is vital to get every thing resolved very quickly.

‘(Horner) is essential in any other case he would not have been in that place for such a very long time.’

The intense highlight on Horner in latest weeks had already began to take a pressure on the couple’s dwelling life – which they cut up between their farmhouse, and stables, in Oxfordshire and a house in North London. 

A supply near the pair stated the previous few weeks had been ‘hell for Christian and his household’ and he had at all times branded the claims as being ‘nuts’.

‘Geri is devastated and has been struggling to eat and sleep. Her household and fellow Spice Girls are fearful about her,’ the supply stated final week forward of Horner being cleared.

‘I hear Christian is attempting to pep her as much as keep constructive, however she has gone to floor in the best way she did after she left the Spice Girls. She’s not chatting with anybody.’ 

Shortly after the leak, Horner launched a press release which learn: ‘I cannot touch upon nameless hypothesis, however to reiterate I’ve at all times denied the allegations.

‘I revered the integrity of the impartial investigation and totally cooperated with it each step of the best way. 

‘It was a radical and honest investigation carried out by an impartial specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the grievance made. I stay totally targeted on the beginning of the season.’

Announcing its conclusion on Wednesday, the corporate stated: ‘The impartial investigation into the allegations made towards Mr Horner is full, and Red Bull can affirm that the grievance has been dismissed. 

The complainant has a proper of attraction. Red Bull is assured that the investigation has been honest, rigorous and neutral. ‘

Horner, who has gained 13 world championships since heading the workforce as a 31-year-old in 2005, had beforehand thanked his ‘very supportive spouse’ for her backing throughout the accusations.

Halliwell and Horner combined in social circles earlier than they struck up a romance, having first met one another on the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.

‘[Geri] was a visitor of [former CEO of the Formula One Group] Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one yr and got here down the pit lane,’ Horner beforehand advised The Telegraph. ‘I keep in mind [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing subsequent to me and Eddie Jordan was there as nicely.

‘She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and he or she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I believed, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek right here!’ And I went to present her one and he or she shoved her hand out at me.’

Their relationship, nonetheless, received off to a rocky begin, coming below hearth after the Red Bull chief left his long-term accomplice Beverley Allen six months after she gave start to their daughter Olivia.

While the couple took a brief break to see if Horner may rescue his relationship with the mom of his baby, simply 9 months later he introduced his engagement to Ginger Spice in an commercial within the The Times in 2014.

It stated: ‘The engagement is introduced between Christian, son of Mr and Mrs G.M. Horner and Geraldine, daughter of the late Mr L.F. Halliwell and Mrs A Parkinson.’

The former Spice Girl and Red Bull boss tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in 2015.

Halliwell’s A-line lace bridal robe was designed by British designer Phillipa Lepley.

Her nine-year-old daughter, Bluebell, whom she had with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi in 2005, additionally attended the marriage.

Guests included Geri’s former Spice Girls co-star Emma Bunton, radio presenter and singer Myleene Klass, and TV presenter Amanda Holden.

Christian’s dad and mom have been reportedly left devastated when the sporting skilled left Ms Allen to be with the chart-topping star and subsequently selected to not see the duo tie the knot.

A supply near the couple beforehand stated: ‘Geri and Christian are dissatisfied that his dad and mom aren’t coming.’

Horner has gained 13 world championships since heading the workforce as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest workforce principal on the grid, but is now its longest-serving.