GINGER Spice Geri Halliwell is adamant her F1 boss hubby has “done nothing wrong”, sources close to the star say.
Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner, 50, is due to be probed by a lawyer on Friday over shock allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female colleague.
News of the allegations broke on Monday as Horner was locked in preparations for Red Bull’s defence of its championship titles – and just weeks out from Horner and Geri’s 10-year anniversary.
Geri, 51, has told pals she does not believe the woman’s claims.
A source close to the Spice Girl said: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
“She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
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The Red Bull F1 boss, who runs the all-conquering team of world champion Max Verstappen and is on an estimated salary of £8million, said: “I completely deny these claims.”
He broke cover for the first time today as he prepares to face a D-Day grilling over the allegations.
It is understood the woman complained to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in Austria, which said on Monday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
“This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
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“The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
Former racing driver Horner married Geri at a church wedding in Woburn, Beds in 2015 following a year-long engagement.
Horner has a seven-year-old son with Geri and a daughter from a previous relationship, while Geri has a 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
The fresh allegations come just weeks out from the 10-year anniversary of when Horner and Geri started dating in March 2014.
Sources have predicted Horner could be gone by “next week” after “losing support” from his team amid the probe.
All parties involved in the investigation are understood to want to have reached “a conclusion” before Red Bull’s 2024 car is launched on February 15, The Telegraph reports.
Red Bull Racing’s Austria-based parent company has reportedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards one female staffer.
Horner immediately denied the allegations, stating on Monday: “I reject these claims entirely.”
A look at Christian Horner’s life and career
CHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row
The investigation is, according to sources, going to focus on the complainant’s concerns about Horner’s strict work regime and does not relate to any sexual impropriety.
An F1 source told The Sun: “Christian had concerns about her conduct and made it clear he was unhappy.
“She went on to make a complaint about his ‘controlling’ behaviour, which detonated this crisis for the team.”
Formula One’s longest-standing team principal could be replaced by Red Bull team manager Jonathan Wheatley on an interim basis if required, insiders allege.
A pal close to Horner yesterday said he is confident the F1 boss will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
The source told the Daily Mail: “Christian is speaking privately and says that he will clear his name and come through this.”
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It comes as Horner’s team, steered by world champ Max Verstappen, prepares for the start of the 2024 season, with the first race to kick off in Bahrain on March 2.
Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles since Horner took over as team principal in 2005.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
