Geri Halliwell ‘calls for Christian Horner cuts ties with colleague’

Geri Halliwell has demanded that her husband Christian Horner cuts ties with the feminine colleague he’s accused of sending racy messages to, sources claimed final night time.

The former Spice Girl, who has stood by her beleaguered associate resolutely up to now, is claimed to have laid down ‘strict floor guidelines’ for the Red Bull boss after he was cleared of inappropriate behaviour.

Halliwell, 51, is claimed to have ‘learn her husband the riot act’ earlier than placing on a present of unity with him in entrance of the cameras on the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, together with kissing him earlier than Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull.

Although Verstappen and Sergio Perez shone in Bahrain with a sensational one-two end, the highlight continues to glare on Horner who’s dealing with recent calls to resign amid the bombshell textual content messages being leaked.

Horner, 50, had been cleared to proceed as Red Bull staff principal on Wednesday following an inside probe – however 24 hours later, flirtatious texts allegedly exchanged between him and the feminine complainant had been leaked to 149 F1 figures.

While Ginger Spice could have stood by her husband in a present of solidarity this weekend, insiders say that the pop star needs the feminine worker ‘out of the image’. 

A supply advised The Sun: ‘Although she smiled for the cameras on the Grand Prix, Geri has laid down some strict floor guidelines. 

‘One is that Christian cuts or reduces contact with the lady — however that’s troublesome due to her position at Red Bull.

‘And she has undoubtedly had her say over what messages he sends. For apparent causes, Geri would love the feminine colleague — who she knew earlier than her appointment — to be out of the image as a lot as doable.’

The supply added that Red Bull can not sack the lady as a result of there are not any grounds to take action.

An F1 insider additionally advised the publication that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old Monty with Horner, had proven ‘nothing however help’ to her husband however is unlikely to be on the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix subsequent weekend as a result of she is ‘extremely busy’. 

Horner is dealing with calls to stop his position and has been accused by Verstappen’s father, Jos, of ‘driving the staff aside’.

Verstappen Snr, who manages his world champion son Max, advised Mail Sport in Bahrain: ‘There is stress right here whereas he stays in place. The staff is at risk of being torn aside. It cannot go on the way in which it’s. It will explode. He is taking part in the sufferer, when he’s the one inflicting the issues.’

In additional feedback to The Telegraph, he mentioned: ‘It can not proceed this manner. The state of affairs is just not good for the staff and is driving individuals aside.’

But a spokesman for Red Bull mentioned: ‘There are not any points right here. The staff are united and we’re centered on racing.’ 

Horner, in the meantime, has mentioned he ‘completely’ expects to stay in cost at Red Bull for subsequent week’s Grand Prix.

The Red Bull chief advised Sky Sports he ‘would not be right here in any other case’ if he thought he was about to lose management of the F1 staff. 

He mentioned: ‘We have gotten great help, great companions and nice shareholders behind us as properly.

‘You do not obtain this type of outcome by not being united.’

Asked if he nonetheless expects to be in cost by the point subsequent week’s race kicks off in Jeddah, he mentioned: ‘Yes, completely. I would not be right here in any other case.’

Before the race Horner and his wif, who he has been married to since 2015, had been noticed in a public show of unity.

Horner had slipped out of the again of Red Bull’s hospitality suite via a gate to fulfill her as she arrived on the principal entrance of the paddock.

They then held arms as they walked via the paddock to Red Bull’s hospitality suite. During the brief stroll they had been mobbed by photographers and TV crews.

The couple had been all smiles at lunch the place they had been later joined by Red Bull’s head of communication and former F1 staff principal Flavio Briatore and Red Bull’s majority shareholder, and Horner ally, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya.

Horner headed for the race grid about 45 minutes earlier than the 3pm begin, giving Geri a kiss as he left.

Sources advised The Sun that the previous Spice Girls singer is ‘livid’ along with her husband, however has not ‘gone nuclear’.

Friends of Halliwell beforehand advised the publication she had ‘learn him the riot act’ over the state of affairs.

Horner, who has at all times denied the claims, mentioned beforehand: ‘I’ve the help of an unimaginable household, an unimaginable spouse, an unimaginable staff and everyone inside that staff.

‘And my focus is happening racing, profitable racing and doing the most effective I can.

‘It was a day about beginning the season in he absolute best means. My focus is on this staff, my household, my spouse and racing.’

The WhatsApp messages had been despatched from an nameless e-mail account to 149 members of the F1 paddock – together with the president of the game’s governing physique Mohammed ben Sulayem, F1 chief govt Stefano Domenicali and the grid’s 9 different staff principals, in addition to members of the media.

The bombshell e-mail contained 79 paperwork, together with lots of of messages, a lot of them of a sexual nature. 

Horner continues to function in his position as staff principal and chief govt, though it’s understood there’s appreciable unease among the many staff’s plethora of sponsors and companions.

He spoke solely as soon as concerning the newest allegations as he made his means from Red Bull’s hospitality suite to the staff’s storage on Friday.

‘I’m not going to touch upon nameless hypothesis from unknown sources,’ he mentioned.

When requested what comes subsequent, Horner replied: ‘We go racing.’

MailOn-line has contacted Halliwell’s representatives for remark.