Ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has joined her beleaguered husband Christian Horner on the Bahrain Grand Prix in the present day in a present of solidarity after leaked textual content messages rocked Formula One.
Red Bull F1 boss Christian Horner 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 non-public jet.
Yet the couple walked hand-in-hand within the Paddock forward of the season opener in Bahrain.
Earlier this week, Halliwell, 51, and her husband, 50, had breathed a collective sigh of aid 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.
Red Bull employees are reportedly afraid that extra messages could also be leaked.
Halliwell, who married the Red Bull staff principal in 2015, went ‘into meltdown’ when she touched down within the Gulf state on a non-public jet on Thursday and found the bombshell messages had been plastered throughout social media.
Ex-Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has joined her beleaguered husband Christian Horner on the Bahrain Grand Prix in the present day in a present of solidarity after leaked textual content messages rocked Formula One
The former Spice Girl smiled as she took a stroll together with her husband forward of the race in the present day
Christian Horner first broke cowl this morning as he was pictured in Bahrain forward of the Grand Prix
Red Bull confirmed to Mail Sport earlier on Saturday that Horner’s former Spice Girl spouse could be on the grid
Halliwell discovered of Horner’s texts leaking whereas she was on a non-public jet to Bahrain. This morning she was nowhere to be seen
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and Red Bull boss Christian Horner are pictured on the Baftas in February final 12 months
Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell (pictured) wasn’t seen together with her husband Christian Horner in the present day
Red Bull Racing staff principal Christian Horner earlier than the Bahrain Grand Prix on the Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir
Halliwell is claimed to have discovered that her husband’s bombshell texts have been leaked as she was flying to Bahrain on a non-public jet. Pictured: The pair collectively in October
Red Bull staff principal Christian Horner and Spice Girl Geri Halliwell pose after the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza on September 7, 2014
This morning, she was nowhere to be seen as her husband Christian Horner was pictured in black sun shades and a Red Bull outfit.
However, Red Bull confirmed to Mail Sport on Saturday that the previous Spice Girl can be on the grid and she or he 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 non-public jet on Friday.
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 recognized about and permitted of the lady working for her husband’s staff.
Friends of the star instructed Mail+ they’re ‘deeply involved’ about her and mentioned the singer appeared ‘fragile’ once they noticed her some weeks in the past.
A supply instructed The Mirror final night time: ‘Geri has been locked in disaster talks together with her staff 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 be able to’t bear the very fact it’s now all out within the open’.
Christian Horner was sporting a Red Bull Formula One staff short-sleeved shirt in the present day
He was seen strolling on the monitor in sunny Bahrain forward of the Grand Prix there on Saturday
After Horner eliminated his sun shades, he was pictured chatting with different members of the staff
His spouse Geri Halliwell’s personal staff is claimed to be urging her to maintain her distance as they concern her model and status could possibly be tarnished
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
It’s believed that the drama has put the Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell’s marriage ‘in query for the primary time’
The supply mentioned that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner, ‘seems like a idiot’, including: ‘It has actually taken its toll on her and she or he instructed friends this week she wouldn’t be in Bahrain.’
The supply mentioned that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner, ‘seems like a idiot’, including: ‘It has actually taken its toll on her and she or he instructed friends 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 staff is claimed to be urging her to maintain her distance as they concern her model and status could possibly be tarnished. The supply claimed that Halliwell is ‘torn’ between each camps.
Friends of Halliwell (pictured at Wimbledon in 2019) say they’re ‘deeply involved’ for the previous Spice Girl and that she appeared ‘fragile’ once they noticed her some weeks in the past
Spice Girl Halliwell and Horner are pictured on their wedding ceremony day in Woburn on May 15, 2015
It’s understood that the singer was adamant on not assembly her husband however Horner’s mom Sara (pictured with the couple) has been pleading together with her to publicly again him in a present of solidarity
The Sun reviews that Halliwell knew of the feminine worker on the centre of the drama, with Red Bull insiders claiming that she even permitted of the lady working for her husband’s staff.
A supply near the Spice Girl instructed the newspaper this was ‘humiliation on a global scale’. They mentioned: ‘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 children is aware of — to not point out a hinterland of affection and connection — that’s simpler mentioned than achieved.’
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 12 months however sources say that is now unlikely.
An F1 supply additionally mentioned that Red Bull employees 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.
Geri Halliwell and her husband Christian Horner are pictured collectively in Las Vegas final November
Horner had been cleared to proceed as Red Bull staff principal on Wednesday and was pictured in Bahrain on Thursday
Geri Halliwell has not but been pictured within the paddock in Bahrain. Here, she is seen at Silverstone final July
Horner has vowed to struggle and is now getting ready for tomorrow’s Bahrain GP
It’s believed that the drama has put the couple’s marriage ‘in query for the primary time’.
Halliwell has not but been seen within the paddock since arriving in Bahrain – the place Red Bull’s Verstappen tried to take the highlight off Horner by taking pole place in qualifying.
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.
As it stands, Halliwell is planning to be at in the present day’s Grand Prix in a public present of solidarity.
The plan is that she can be at Horner’s aspect 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 vitality drinks firm.
One insider instructed Mail Sport forward of the GP: ‘She [Halliwell] took off earlier than the e-mail landed. I do not know whether or not she can be on the race however will probably be mayhem if she is.
‘It could be nuts. She might even be flying residence.’
As she arrived, her husband was pulled from the pit wall into a gathering with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Christian Horner pictured on Thursday forward of a observe session on the Bahrain International Circuit
Horner and Geri Halliwell on the Larkhill Royal Artillery Point to Point
The Red Bull boss – seen on Thursday – is again within the highlight after textual content messages allegedly exchanged between him and a feminine worker have been leaked
Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner attends the Team Principals Press Conference throughout observe forward of the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on September 22, 2023, in Suzuka, Japan
The couple had breathed a collective sigh of aid 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 instructed MailOnline that she was ‘very sad’ at Red Bull’s determination to clear the F1 boss.
A relative of the feminine worker mentioned: ‘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 have 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 don’t know in any respect who’s chargeable for the leak.
‘You at all times consider 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 type 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 converse on daily basis and she or he’s very sad – after all. In her mind-set it is all very one-sided and she or he’s been crucified.
‘Are the Red Bull investigation staff unbiased? Who is aware of? They’ve made comparisons within the newspapers about Christian being grilled for 12 hours or so…effectively 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 struggle on and was pictured in his Red Bull gear forward of observe for the Bahrain Grand Prix yesterday.
It comes as pals 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’.
Friends near the Spice Girl mentioned she is ‘having the meltdown to all meltdowns over the leaks’
Horner and Halliwell in a vacation {photograph} taken on an unidentified seashore over Christmas
The couple tied the knot at a star-studded ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Woburn in 2015
Miss Halliwell threw her husband Horner a shock fiftieth birthday celebration in December final 12 months
The mother-of-two has been left ‘feeling humiliated’ after the messages have been unfold ‘so extensively on the market’, a buddy added.
Hundreds of intimate WhatsApp exchanges purportedly between Horner and the colleague have been launched by way of an nameless e mail account.
Horner was solely cleared by Red Bull’s Salzburg-based mother or father firm – and instructed he may keep on as staff principal of the world-championship on a £8million-a-year-salary – 24 hours earlier than the texts dropped.
Halliwell had instructed pals that she was ‘relieved and elated’ that the claims in opposition to her associate, with whom she shares seven-year-old son Monty, had lastly been dropped.
Friends of the Spice Girl instructed 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 mentioned: ‘All alongside Christian promised there was nothing in it.’
Another mentioned 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 mentioned: ‘Geri has been residing on this completely satisfied, completely satisfied bubble for therefore 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 discovered Christian had been cleared.
‘Geri was pilloried when she bought along with Christian as a result of he had simply had one other child with one other lady 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 may have began once more.
‘This will destroy her. All alongside Christian promised there was nothing in it.’
One supply near the star mentioned that she ‘wasn’t positive what to consider’ all through the saga however was decided to get via it with their marriage unscathed.
‘Geri isn’t any fish spouse however she lastly bought the person she wished and she or he will not need to let him go. This may find yourself being a giant dilemma for her,’ the supply mentioned.
The tranche of messages have been despatched to FIA president Mohammad Ben Sulayem and F1 chief govt Stefano Domenicali. All the staff 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 in opposition to Horner first got here to mild. Sources near the star mentioned 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 staff’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 an entire staff effort that everybody has to stay collectively and work to extra success, in order that’s why it is necessary to get all the things 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 current weeks had already began to take a pressure on the couple’s residence life – which they cut up between their farmhouse, and stables, in Oxfordshire and a house in North London.
A supply near the pair mentioned the previous couple of 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 apprehensive about her,’ the supply mentioned final week forward of Horner being cleared.
‘I hear Christian is making an attempt to pep her as much as keep optimistic, 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 unbiased investigation and absolutely cooperated with it each step of the best way.
‘It was a radical and honest investigation carried out by an unbiased specialist barrister, and it has concluded dismissing the criticism made. I stay absolutely targeted on the beginning of the season.’
The messages come a day after Horner was instructed he could be cleared of a Red Bull probe into his behaviour
The Spice Girls star mentioned she is ‘actually grateful’ to have Christian Horner as her ‘finest buddy’
Horner and Halliwell meet then-Prince Charles at a Prince’s Trust occasion in London in 2019
Announcing its conclusion on Wednesday, the corporate mentioned: ‘The unbiased investigation into the allegations made in opposition to Mr Horner is full, and Red Bull can verify 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 staff as a 31-year-old in 2005, had beforehand thanked his ‘very supportive spouse’ for her backing in the course of the accusations.
Halliwell and Horner blended 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 12 months and got here down the pit lane,’ Horner beforehand instructed The Telegraph. ‘I bear in mind [McLaren boss] Ron Dennis was standing subsequent to me and Eddie Jordan was there as effectively.
‘She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she or he gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I assumed, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek right here!’ And I went to offer her one and she or he shoved her hand out at me.’
Their relationship, nonetheless, bought off to a rocky begin, coming underneath hearth after the Red Bull chief left his long-term associate Beverley Allen six months after she gave delivery to their daughter Olivia.
While the couple took a brief break to see if Horner may rescue his relationship with the mom of his youngster, simply 9 months later he introduced his engagement to Ginger Spice in an commercial within the The Times in 2014.
Christian Horner, pictured with Prince Harry earlier than the Texas Grand Prix in October final 12 months
Ginger Spice and Horner are pictured on the World Premiere of ‘The Moonwalkers’ final December
Christian and Geri’s relationship got here underneath hearth after the Formula One boss left his long-term associate Beverley Allen (pictured) six months after the delivery of their daughter, Olivia
Halliwell and Horner attend the Gala Dinner for the F1 Grand Prix Of Monaco on May 28, 2023
It mentioned: ‘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 due to this fact selected to not see the duo tie the knot.
A supply near the couple beforehand mentioned: ‘Geri and Christian are disenchanted that his dad and mom aren’t coming.’
Horner has gained 13 world championships since heading the staff as a 31-year-old in 2005. He was then the youngest staff principal on the grid, but is now its longest-serving.