GERI Halliwell joined her F1 boss husband Christian Horner today at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in another public display of support.
Her appearance comes after hundreds of embarrassing messages were leaked and Horner’s sext accuser was suspended from Red Bull.
Geri, 51, was spotted arriving in the Paddock on Saturday afternoon, greeting a number of Red Bull employees before walking into the team’s motorhome.
The Spice Girl last week flew to Bahrain for the first race of the Formula One season in what was an awkward show of solidarity.
She has been staying in Dubai while Horner, 50, battled a female aide’s discredited claims that he bombarded her with “sexually suggestive” messages.
Horner this week said he wanted to “draw a line” under the scandal while saluting his “phenomenally supportive” wife.
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Geri was left in tears when the scandal broke but has demonstrated her unwavering loyalty to her embattled husband by continuing to stand by his side in public.
Fellow Spice Girl Mel B yesterday revealed how the pop girl group have rallied around Geri in the wake of her husband’s sexting scandal.
She said it had been “horrible” to see her suffer and that she, Mel C, Emma Bunton, and Victoria Beckham would “take a bullet” for their friend.
A source told Sun Online yesterday: “It was tough for Geri in Bahrain but she was determined to show her marriage is still strong and she will do the same at the Saudi Grand Prix.
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“Christian has been full of praise for her support and she wants the world to know they are still very much a couple.
“She has lived her life in the public eye for years as a Spice Girl and can deal with the attention.”
Horner and Geri held hands and kissed during a stilted clinch in front of a battery of cameras at last week’s Bahrain Grand Prix, where Red Bull world champ Max Verstappen triumphed.
Meanwhile, Max’s dad Jos Verstappen claimed that Red Bull would “explode” if Horner remained in charge.
Jos and Horner were seen locked in what appeared to be a fiery argument during the F1 season opener as rumours swirled that the pair had been clashing for months.
The Sun revealed on Thursday that Horner’s accuser had been suspended, with insiders alleging that the aide had been sent home on full pay over “inconsistencies” in her evidence to a barrister-led probe into her boss’s conduct.
Pals said Horner was finding it impossible to avoid his accuser at work who, according to insiders, demanded to continue working in regular contact with her boss among 1,600 employees at the team’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
HR bosses stepped in and suspended her on full pay.
Speaking for the first time since the woman was suspended, Jos told MailOnline: “I sympathise with the woman, with all that she went through, but we will see what happens.”
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”.
MAR 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.”
MAR 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.”
MAR 6: Max Verstappen sides with his dad in the row.
MAR 7: Horner says he wants to draw a line under the scandal and hails Geri’s support — as Red Bull suspends the employee.
When asked if it was time to “draw a line” under the situation, as Horner insisted people do, Jos said: “I think it’s a bit too late for that now.
“If that’s what he wants, fine, but I don’t think it will be possible.”
Horner was cleared of misconduct by the probe last week but the scandal exploded 24 hours later when a “sext bomb” of hundreds of texts between the pair were leaked.
He admitted this week that it had been a “trying” time for his family, which includes his wife Geri and three children.
The F1 boss said: “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.
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“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.”
Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
