F1 boss Christian Horner today broke his silence in an attempt to finally end his sexting scandal.
The cleared Red Bull chief, 50, heaped praise on his supportive wife, Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.
Insiders revealed concerns had been raised over alleged “inconsistencies” in the hundreds of embarrassing WhatsApp messages leaked last week.
Horner admitted it had been a “trying” time.
But he piled on the praise for Spice Girl Geri, 51, who put on an awkward display of unity with her husband at last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
He said: “My wife has been phenomenally supportive throughout this as have my family.
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“It’s obviously been a very trying period. I’m married and have three children.
“When that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed on my marriage, I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife. And I’m the only one that has been named in this.
“It’s very challenging, because when there’s children involved, when there’s families, parents involved, it’s not pretty. It is time now to focus on why we are here, which is to go Formula One racing.”
Pals said Horner — who was cleared in a Red Bull probe before the leak — was finding it impossible to avoid his accuser at work.
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Frustrations came to a head on Monday following a series of interventions by high-powered lawyers on behalf of the employee.
HR bosses stepped in and suspended her on full pay — with some reports citing alleged “dishonesty” — pending the outcome of an internal inquiry.
Insiders said the woman had demanded to continue working in regular contact with her embattled boss among 1,600 employees at the all-conquering F1 team’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
Ex-racing driver Horner fielded a dozen questions about the scandal, and said he was keen to “draw a line” under it.
At a press conference ahead of this weekend’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, he said: “Obviously there’s been an awful lot of coverage surrounding this. But one has to go back to the basis that a grievance was raised, it was investigated, and it was dismissed. Obviously it’s been of great interest but I think it is time now to draw a line under it.
“I’m afraid I can’t comment on anything that is confidential between an employee and the company. I am not going to air all the discussions that are private between the parties. Discussions have been had and the team is focused on the challenges ahead of us.”
Sun Online exclusively revealed that Horner’s aide had been suspended.
A source said: “It became obvious that the situation could not continue and it was decided to suspend her on full pay while internal inquiries continue.
“Anyone reading the messages could see that they were full of holes and did not present the full picture of what had been going on.
“There were concerns about her reliability regarding both her conduct during the inquiry and since she returned to work in contact with Christian.”
UNITED FRONT
Geri landed in Bahrain last week just after the messages were leaked — and the couple were pictured in an awkward clinch at the track.
Red Bull’s world champ driver Max Verstappen stormed to victory in the season opener but the team remained embroiled in the controversy surrounding Horner.
Geri pleaded with her husband to cut all contact with his accuser – but he found it impossible to comply as they remained in regular contact at work.
Horner was said to have been frustrated at having to “keep up appearances” at Red Bull’s HQ, where every employee knows the identity of his accuser.
The aide – who had her own monogrammed Red Bull pit suit – was said to have instructed lawyers “at every turn” to resist efforts to reduce her role.
My wife has been phenomenally supportive throughout this as have my family
Christian Horner
She had even demanded to fly with Horner to Bahrain to support the Red Bull team in her working role until her lawyers advised her against it.
The Sun’s source added: “Christian wants nothing to do with this woman after she detonated a bomb under his marriage and his career.
“But every time he has tried to extricate himself from her, he’s received a warning letter from her lawyers. Whenever she thinks she’s being sidelined, her lawyers step in immediately. It’s frustrating for both Christian and Geri and makes his working life extremely awkward.
“The big buzz around F1 at the moment is about how on earth she can afford to pay top lawyers on her comparatively modest salary.”
BEHIND-THE-SCENES CLASHES
The saga has also been complicated by behind-the-scenes clashes between Horner and star driver Verstappen’s father Jos.
Insiders said Verstappen Snr had become close to the female employee.
He has denied being the text leaker while warning Red Bull will “explode” if Horner stays.
On Wednesday, Max sided with his father, insisting: “My dad is always very outspoken. He’s not a liar, that’s for sure.”
Horner was seen chatting to Verstappen Jnr yesterday at practice in Jeddah for the weekend’s race.
He played down what appeared to be a public spat last weekend with Verstappen Snr, which was captured on video.
The £8-million-a-year Red Bull team principal said: “Obviously I’m aware of the comments that were made. There was a discussion subsequent to the race in Bahrain.
“I spoke to Jos following the grand prix and obviously congratulated him on his son’s performance.
“I think it’s in everyone’s interest that we’ve agreed to focus on the future. We have a vested interest together to do the best for his son.”
Last week Jos said of Horner: “He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
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He added: “The situation is not good for the team and is driving people apart.”
On Monday, Horner was reportedly not invited to Jos’ 52nd birthday party in Dubai, despite other Red Bull bosses being among the guests.
SCANDAL… LAP BY LAP
FEBRUARY 5: A Dutch newspaper reports a female Red Bull employee has made serious allegations of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” about Horner to parent company Red Bull GmbH.
FEB 9: Horner is quizzed for nine hours by the lawyer hired by Red Bull to investigate.
FEB 15: He denies the allegations and says they are a distraction for the team.
FEB 15: F1 says it hopes the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.
FEB 26: Red Bull’s engine partner Ford says it is increasingly frustrated by the team’s handling of the complaint.
FEB 28: Horner is cleared of all wrongdoing. The employee is said to have the right of appeal.
FEB 29: Horner says he is pleased the investigation is over.
FEB 29: WhatsApp texts and pictures claimed to be between Horner and the employee are sent to journalists and F1.
MARCH 1: Horner refuses to comment on what he calls “anonymous speculation from unknown sources”.
MARCH 2: Horner and wife Geri are pictured hand-in-hand, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner says before the race: “It’s been very testing for my family but we are very strong and our focus is on this race.”
MARCH 3: Verstappen’s dad Jos, claims Red Bull is in “danger of being torn apart” if Horner stays in the job. He denies being the source of the WhatsApp leak, saying: “It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”
MARCH 6: Max Verstappen sides with his dad in the row.
MARCH 7: Horner says he wants to draw a line under the scandal and hails Geri’s support — as Red Bull suspends the employee.
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
