New clip reveals embattled Horner and spouse Geri speaking to Briatore

New footage has emerged of under-pressure Red Bull boss Christian Horner and spouse Geri Halliwell in earnest dialog with Flavio Briatore in the course of the Bahrain Grand Prix on the weekend.

The couple had been the centre of consideration on the opening Grand Prix of the Formula One season, placing on a present of unity for the cameras.

Horner was exonerated final week by an inside Red Bull report after allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’ in direction of a feminine colleague.

But then footage emerged in an nameless e-mail despatched to 149 figures throughout the sport revealing what gave the impression to be sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages to the complainant.

Among the recipients had been FIA president Mohammad bin Sulayem and F1 chief government Stefano Domenicali.

The clip, posted on Saturday by Turkish motorsport journalist Cihangir Perperik, confirmed Horner and his spouse showing to have a critical dialog with Briatore and a Red Bull staffer on the circuit.

Italian businessman Briatore, 73, was managing director of the Benetton Formula One staff in the course of the Nineties when a younger Michael Schumacher received two world titles with them. 

He was later staff principal of Renault F1 after they took over Benetton in 2000. Fernando Alonso received the motive force’s championship with the staff in 2005 and 2006. 

Briatore isn’t any stranger to controversy throughout the sport.

He was compelled to resign from Renault on account of his involvement in a race-fixing scandal on the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and was banned by the FIA – a punishment later overturned. 

The incident in query occurred when Nelson Piquet Jr’s Renault crashed within the race, with allegations he had completed so intentionally to assist team-mate Alonso win the race.

An FIA investigation led to Renault being charged with conspiracy and race-fixing, with Piquet Jr alleging Briatore and Renault chief engineer Pat Symonds requested him to crash.

Briatore and Symonds left the staff 5 days later, with the Italian saying he’d left ‘to avoid wasting the staff.’

The FIA banned Briatore from all of their occasions with the Renault staff placed on two years’ probation.

Briatore later sued the FIA in French courts to clear his title and succeeded in January 2010, being awarded 15,000 Euros compensation. The two events later reached an out-of-court settlement.

Briatore was additionally briefly co-owner of Queens Park Rangers Football Club however he stepped down after the English Football League requested the findings of the FIA investigation into the race-fixing affair. 

Red Bull chief Horner maintained all weekend in Bahrain that his ‘focus may be very a lot with what’s on the monitor’ with out commenting on the alleged messages.

The Mail reported on Sunday night time that Halliwell has demanded Horner cuts ties with the feminine colleague he’s accused of sending the racy messages to. 

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

Halliwell, 51, is alleged 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.

Horner joined celebrations after reigning champion Max Verstappen claimed victory within the season-opening race on Saturday.

He was additionally seen stood subsequent to his associate Halliwell to look at the rostrum celebrations, having earlier kissed in full view of the cameras.

But some are calling for Horner to depart his place, together with Jos Verstappen – father of three-time world champion Max – who stated the Milton Keynes-based racing staff would ‘explode’ if he stays in cost.

‘There is stress right here whereas he (Horner) stays in place,’ he solely advised Mail Sport.

‘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.’

Toto Wolff additionally spoke out on the scenario and known as for Formula One’s governing physique to ‘set the compass proper’.

Wolff stated: ‘Let’s see the place it goes within the subsequent few days. I might very a lot hope that the governing physique and the industrial rights’ holder set the compass proper.

‘But the second I proceed to query how this has been dealt with, I’m most likely not doing any good to the entire concern, as a result of then it may very well be seen as this simply being a few energy combat inside F1.

‘That’s why it shouldn’t be within the groups’ (Red Bull’s) arms. It’s a a lot larger subject than that and I do not wish to diminish the entire scenario by making it seem to be the Mercedes man is speaking in regards to the Red Bull guys.’

Ben Sulayem advised the Financial Times that the turmoil is ‘damaging the game on a human degree’. 

Domenicali, in the meantime, has not reacted to the matter instantly in any respect, and saved a low profile in Bahrain.

Mail Sport additionally revealed that FIA president Ben Sulayem advised Max Verstappen to again Horner in a guarded chat after qualifying in Bahrain on Friday. 

The triple world champion, who took pole and went on to win the race in Bahrain, was seen in dialogue with motor racing’s most senior determine in parc ferme. Both males hid what they stated behind their arms.

But in response to an observer standing shut by, Ben Sulayem advised Verstappen: ‘You should publicly again Christian.’

Another supply stated that Verstappen wasn’t completely satisfied by the recommendation. The Dutchman was equivocal when requested about Horner within the press convention afterwards.