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      Christian Horner vows to pals he’ll ‘clear his name’ in probe ahead of D-Day Red Bull talks with Geri ‘standing by him’

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      RED Bull chief Christian Horner has privately vowed to “clear his name” ahead of a D-Day grilling over claims of “inappropriate and controlling behaviour”.Horner, 50, will fight to save his career at a hearing at team headquarters on Friday following the allegations made by a female colleague.
      Christian Horner is facing a formal investigation over his conduct towards a female stafferCredit: Getty
      His wife Geri Halliwell is standing firm by his side through the scandalCredit: AFP
      Sources say the Ginger Spice star is refusing to speak to ‘anyone’ after news broke of the allegationsCredit: Getty
      A pal close to the F1 boss and his Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell, 51, revealed that Horner believes he will be cleared of wrongdoing.
      “Christian is speaking privately and says that he will clear his name and come through this,” the source told the Daily Mail.
      Halliwell is said to be devastated by the bombshell allegations – but will firmly stand by Horner, who she married in 2015.
      Another source said: “[She is] not talking to anyone at the moment. Geri seems to be simply too upset to engage with anyone. Just lots of tears.
      read more on christian horner
      “She will stand by him and be at his side just as much as she always has been. She never misses a race and that will not change.”
      Formula One was rocked on Monday by the news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull Austria.
      The parent company has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards one female staffer, The Telegraph reported.
      Horner issued an immediate denial on Monday, stating: “I reject these claims entirely.”
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      It is understood that the Red Bull principal will be quizzed by an independent lawyer appointed to examine the unnamed woman’s claims at the crunch meeting on Friday.
      Sources say the investigation is set to centre on the employee’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.”
      Another source said: “It’s an awkward situation but it’s unavoidable until the air is cleared and this matter is resolved.”
      Mum-of-two Halliwell reportedly turned her phone off on Monday due to streams of cruel messages online, with fans demanding she leave her husband.
      The glamorous couple got married in Bedfordshire in 2015 and have one child together, Montague, aged seven.
      The racing boss is also stepdad to Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 17, and has another daughter, Olivia, 10, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      Another source told The Mail: “She is committed to him with every fibre of her being.”
      However, the scandal engulfing her husband has blown a “Grand Canyon-sized crack” right in the middle of her “super-perfect, super-posh life,” they claimed.
      It followed reports that Geri had been in “floods of tears” last weekend as she looked after her kids.
      A source close to the singer told The Sun: “She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Horner – who is on an estimated salary of £8million at Red Bull – has been preparing for the start of the 2024 season with his all-conquering team led by world champion Max Verstappen.
      Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Since Horner took over as team principal in 2005, Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles.
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN 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

      His defenders have reportedly claimed the accusations are part of a plot to oust him within the team amid an internal power struggle.
      Rumours of the unrelated internal issues within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.
      Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      Red Bull Austria said on Monday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      “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.”
      Red Bull’s golden boy Max Verstappen poses with Horner after winning the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of last season
      Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s death in October, 2022 allegedly sparked a power struggle at Red BullCCredit: AFP
      The Spice Girl is said to be committed to Horner with ‘every fibre of her being’Credit: Getty
      The star-studded pair married in 2015 and share one daughterCredit: Splash News More

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      Geri Horner facing ‘ultimate Catch-22’ over husband Christian after piling their £440m fortune into Downton dream

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      GERI Horner’s seemingly perfect life as a horsey country mum could come crashing down if her F1 boss husband Christian is found to have acted “inappropriately” towards a female colleague.And a public relations guru has warned the former Spice Girl to think carefully before adopting the approach of former bandmate Victoria Beckham by putting on a show of marital unity.
      Geri and Christian have built a country life – and 14 stables – togetherCredit: Geri Horner/Instagram
      Geri in her Union Jack-wearing Spice Girl daysCredit: Getty
      The once cheeky Geri, who grew up on a council estate in Watford, famously wore a revealing Union Jack dress at the Brit Awards and patted King Charles’s bum at a Royal Variety performance in 1997.
      But these days the 51-year-old has transformed her image, bedding down with the Cotswold set, wearing only white and reportedly hoping that the monarch will reward her with a CBE for her work promoting literacy.
      An honour might be under threat if the allegations against Red Bull Racing boss Christian, who has been accused of “controlling behaviour” with a female work colleague, prove to be founded.
      Sources say the investigation is set to centre on the employee’s concerns about Horner’s strict work regime and does not relate to any sexual impropriety.
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      The Spice Girl is said to be “too upset” to talk to “anyone” as her husband, 50, gears up for a D-Day grilling over the claims on Friday.
      But the Daily Mail reports that she will follow in the footsteps of bandmate Victoria, who publicly stood by husband David during allegations of an affair in 2004.
      A source told the paper: “She will stand by him and be at his side just as much as she always has been. She never misses a race and that will not change.”
      However, Geri, who now uses the surname Halliwell-Horner, should be cautious about following Posh Spice’s lead, says PR boss Jack Izzard, CEO of Rhizome Media.
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      He tells The Sun: “If they’re confident that the allegations are baseless and that the independent investigation will vindicate Mr Horner, they could put on a public show of marital unity like Geri’s fellow Spice Girl Victoria Beckham did when it emerged her husband David had been having an affair.
      “But this is risky. Allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a man in a position of power can sometimes have a toxic tinge far beyond that of an extra-marital affair.”
      Tricky position
      Geri and Christian married at Woburn Abbey in 2015Credit: Splash News
      The couple often attend glamorous red carpet eventsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Geri has become a good friend of King CharlesCredit: AFP
      In an ultimate PR Catch-22, hiding from the crisis might not be a good idea, either.
      Geri, who married Christian in 2015 after a whirlwind romance, is devoted to her husband – so much so that the password for the Wi-Fi at their home was once reportedly “Wonderful Husband.”
      Christian Horner’s wife Spice Girl Geri bakes super Swiss roll cake in lavish country home
      They have one son together, seven-year-old Monty, and she has previously insisted they will never get divorced.
      By not supporting Christian, she could give the impression that all is not well in the Halliwell-Horner household.
      Jack cautions: “Equally, going into lockdown could be interpreted as a sign of a fracture in the couple’s relationship and fuel speculation that there’s no smoke without fire.”   
      Of course, that would be unfair on Geri, for whom the news of an investigation into Christian’s workplace behaviour is said to have come out of the blue.
      Christian vehemently denies any wrongdoing and will be defending himself at the internal hearing on Friday, which is said to be at Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes.
      Geri’s husband has been the head of Red Bull’s Formula One race team since it launched in 2005.
      He has brought remarkable success, including seven championship crowns for its drivers and six constructors titles.
      But earlier this week the Austrian firm revealed it was investigating allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by Christian.
      It issued a statement, saying: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. The company takes these matters extremely seriously.”
      Going into lockdown could be interpreted as a sign of a fractureJack Izzard
      Up until now, the main complaint against Christian has been from his F1 rivals, which appeared to be sour grapes over his success.
      He is a workaholic who never misses a race and admits to being driven by a need to win.
      Jack comments: “There’s a brutal irony here. The reputation of a woman whose figure-hugging Union Jack dress once made her the avatar of both Girl Power and Cool Britannia now hangs in the balance, not because of something she has done, but because of the allegations swirling around her husband.”
      Downton dream
      Prince William shared a friendly embrace with Geri at a homeless charity eventCredit: Getty
      Christian and Geri hobnob with Prince Harry in 2014Credit: Getty
      Geri and Christian’s romance was in some ways to the manor born.
      Their second-ever meeting was at Highclere Castle in Hampshire, which is the setting for the beloved upstairs downstairs TV drama Downton Abbey.
      They met at a clay pigeon shoot and realised they had a passion for country pursuits.
      Since becoming Mrs Halliwell-Horner, Geri certainly seems to have moved closer to a circle more familiar to her privately-educated husband.
      Geri, whose mum was a cleaner, these days counts Baroness Bamford, who lives nearby on a 1500-acre estate in the Cotswolds, among her pals – along with top members of the Royal Family.
      In November 2022 the Queen Consort Camilla gave Geri a warm hug at a reception at Buckingham Palace in London.
      She was also embraced by Prince William when she appeared with him at an event for his homeless charity Homewards.
      And shortly after the King’s coronation last year, Geri gave Charles a peck on the cheek at a Prince’s Trust event.
      Everything is all white
      Geri’s animal farm includes a donkeyCredit: Instagram/TheRealGeriHalliwel
      Geri loves country life – including picking fresh raspberriesCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      The one constant at all these events has been the colour of Geri’s dress. Even when she is out riding her horses at the couple’s Oxfordshire estate, white is preferred.
      She explained her stylistic passion to The Sun, saying: “Everything becomes really simple. It’s like wearing a school uniform as an adult.
      “It matches with everything and I literally don’t have to think in the mornings. It kind of looks like you’ve made an effort when you haven’t.”
      And if you were to look at the singer-turned-children author’s Instagram page, you would think her life was perfect bliss.
      A week ago she was celebrating her horse Look at Mee’s first race; five weeks back Christian was awarded a CBE and before Christmas she held a star-studded 50th birthday party for her husband.
      The guests included Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart and Gary Barlow.
      When it was Geri’s own 50th in 2022, David Walliams, Holly Willoughby, Rylan, Chris Evans, Myleene Klass and Poppy Delevingne joined in the celebrations.
      It kind of looks like you’ve made an effort when you haven’tGeri on always wearing white
      With the couple worth a reported £440million they can certainly afford to splash out on extravagant parties.
      They recently built 14 stables for their horses, which will take part in races. Their home in Banbury has donkeys, goats, ducks and she recently graced the cover of upmarket Country & Town House magazine.
      Geri’s daughter Bluebell, 17, and Christian’s daughter Olivia, ten – both from previous relationships – also share the plush mansion.
      She loves to bake with the kids and cook for her husband, when he’s not away at Grand Prix races.
      On Friday Christian will be the centre of attention for all the wrong reasons.
      If he comes out with his good reputation in-tact, there will be no reason why Geri’s high life among the upper classes can’t go on.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      But if not, the glamorous invitations for the power couple are sure to dry up.
      Jack concludes: “Ultimately the findings of the investigation will determine whether this is just engine trouble or a high-speed crash for F1’s golden couple.”
      The Queen Consort Camilla hugging GeriCredit: Getty
      Geri singing to husband Christian with showbiz palsCredit: Instagram More

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      What the F1 grid could look like in 2025 – with Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari and Max Verstappen set for new team-mate

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      THE FORMULA ONE grid could look very different in 2025 with a number of drivers potentially on the move.Racing fans are gearing up for another season of speed and excitement.
      Lewis Hamilton will lead the way for a new-look 2025 in F1 by joining FerrariCredit: AP
      Carlos Sainz will be on the hunt for a new side after being replaced by the BritCredit: Getty
      Max Verstappen is set for a new partner with Sergio Perez likely to leave Red BullCredit: EPA
      Alex Albon has been tipped to leave Williams and link up with F1 champ VerstappenCredit: AP
      But the opener in Bahrain on March 2 has already been overshadowed by a major development.
      That’s because Lewis Hamilton will leave Mercedes at the end of the year for rivals Ferrari.
      The shock switch is certainly going to have a knock-on effect, as it means there will be a seat free at Mercedes.
      Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is also set to spell the end of Carlos Sainz’s time with the Italians.
      READ MORE ON F1
      His contract is up at the end of the campaign, while teammate Charles Leclerc’s runs into 2025.
      Meanwhile, Alex Albon looks destined for a big move.
      He has been linked with replacing Hamilton at Mercedes.
      But Albon has also been tipped to join champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull.
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      🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 
      That would put Sergio Perez back on the market, while there are numerous other drivers out of contract later this year.
      Fernando Alonso, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Kevin Magnussen, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant face uncertain futures in F1 next year.
      Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including £4m classic and £1.6m ride made entirely for him

      But all eyes will be on Hamilton when he lines up for Mercedes in his final campaign with the Germans.
      After signing his Ferrari deal, the seven-time champion said: “I have had an amazing 11 years with this team and I’m so proud of what we have achieved together.
      “Mercedes has been part of my life since I was 13 years old.
      “It’s a place where I have grown up, so making the decision to leave was one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make.
      “But the time is right for me to take this step and I’m excited to be taking on a new challenge.
      “I will be forever grateful for the incredible support of my Mercedes family, especially Toto for his friendship and leadership and I want to finish on a high together.
      “I am 100 per cent committed to delivering the best performance I can this season and making my last year with the Silver Arrows, one to remember.”
      WHO COULD REPLACE HAMILTON AT MERCEDES? Mercedes will have a vacant seat for 2025.
      Here, SunSport’s F1 correspondent Ben Hunt looks at FIVE potential candidates who could replace him and partner George Russell in the Silver Arrows.
      Oscar Piastri – McLaren have sewn up Lando Norris to a new long-term contract that should (in theory) put him out of Mercedes’ reach. However, they are yet to tie down his teammate Piastri, 22. The Aussie has an excellent record and won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 titles before spending a year on the sidelines with Alpine and getting his chance in F1 with McLaren. He impressed on his debut season last year and has the potential to be a world champion.
      Daniel Ricciardo – The experienced driver’s future remains in doubt as he bides his time at Red Bull’s B-team. Ricciardo would be low-hassle and offer some stability but by that time he would be 35. It seems unlikely that they would opt for him at this point in his career, but if he has a good season this year, he could come into the reckoning.
      Kimi Antonelli – You may not have heard of the Italian, but he is mustard. Still only 17, he has won at all the junior categories and has been part of the Mercedes young driver programme since 2019. This season he has been promoted from F4 to F2, where he has been tipped to shine. A good debut season in F2 could sway Mercedes into taking a risk on him for 2025. Antonelli and his family are close to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.
      Mick Schumacher – Wolff has always been so incredibly supportive of Schumacher and spoken highly of him, that you’d at least expect him to come into consideration. He knows the team from his role as reserve driver and consequently would get up to speed. But speed is also the problem. He was shocking at Haas and if he really was THAT good, he’d still be driving in F1.
      Alex Albon – A more-sensible choice would be the London-born Albon. A great guy who is also very quick. He has a fantastic relationship with Russell and would be the low-maintenance quick partnership similar to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas that swept to successive titles. Albon would take little convincing to join from Williams and Mercedes would not need to pay him half of the £50million they were dishing out to Hamilton. More

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      Geri Halliwell ‘too upset to talk to ANYONE’ as hubby Christian Horner faces grilling over ‘dossier’ on ‘behaviour’

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      GERI Halliwell is reportedly “too upset” to talk to “anyone” as her husband Christian Horner gears up for a D-Day grilling over claims of “inappropriate behaviour” at Red Bull.The Spice Girl, 51, is said to be devastated by the allegations made by a female staffer – but will stand firmly by Horner, 50.
      Geri Halliwell-Horner allegedly turned her phone off after news broke of the investigation into her husband, sources sayCredit: Getty
      F1’s golden couple married in 2015 and have a daughter togetherCredit: Getty
      The Spice Girl is said to be committed to Horner ‘will every fibre of her being’Credit: AFP
      A friend revealed that Halliwell is “not talking to anyone at the moment.”
      They told the Daily Mail: “Geri seems to be simply too upset to engage with anyone. Just lots of tears.
      “She will stand by him and be at his side just as much as she always has been. She never misses a race and that will not change.”
      The mum-of-two reportedly turned her phone off on Monday due to streams of cruel messages online, with fans demanding she leave her husband.
      read more on horner
      The glamorous Oxfordshire-based couple married in 2015 and have one child together, Montague, aged seven.
      The racing boss is also stepdad to Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 17, and has another daughter, Olivia, 10, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      A second source revealed: “She is committed to him with every fibre of her being.”
      However, the scandal engulfing her husband has blown a “Grand Canyon-sized crack” right in the middle of her “super-perfect, super-posh life,” they claimed.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Another source close the singer told The Sun on Monday: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
      “She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Formula One was rocked on Monday by the news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull Austria.
      The company has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards one female staffer, The Telegraph reports.
      Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner investigated by F1 team over ‘serious allegations’ of ‘inappropriate behaviour’
      Horner issued an immediate denial on Monday, stating: “I reject these claims entirely.”
      It is understood that Horner will now be quizzed by an independent lawyer appointed to examine the unnamed woman’s claims at a hearing on Friday.
      Sources say the investigation is set to centre on the employee’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.”
      Another source said: “It’s an awkward situation but it’s unavoidable until the air is cleared and this matter is resolved.”
      How Christian Horner’s whirlwind Geri romance ’caused family row’ after shock splitF1 principal Christian Horner is no stranger to a personal crisis – having fallen out with his parents badly after leaving the mother of his first child and marrying Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.
      Horner’s parents didn’t attend the 2015 wedding, reportedly because they were upset about the end of his 14-year relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      While the family seems to have patched things up now, Horner has also experienced turmoil in his professional life.
      The hard-working team boss has previously fallen out with rival F1 bosses and is apparently wrapped up in an ongoing feud with Mercedes racing chief Toto Wolff.
      It stems from accusations that Red Bull broke budget rules and benefited from rule bending when their driver Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the F1 championship in 2021.
      And there are now rumours of a power struggle within Red Bull, a battle that could be Christian’s toughest yet

      Horner – who is on an estimated salary of £8million – has been preparing for the start of the 2024 season with his all-conquering team of world champion Max Verstappen.
      Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Since Horner took over as team principal in 2005, Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles.
      His defenders reportedly claimed the accusations are part of a plot to oust him within the team amid an internal power struggle.
      Rumours of the unrelated internal issues within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.
      Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Red Bull Austria said on Monday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      “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.”
      Red Bull’s golden boy Max Verstappen poses with Horner after winning the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of last season
      Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s death in October, 2022 allegedly sparked a power struggle at Red BullCredit: AP
      The star-studded pair live on a multi-million pound estate in Oxfordshire More

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      F1 boss Christian Horner faces D-Day grilling by lawyer amid claims of ‘vicious power struggle’

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      SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell’s F1 boss husband will face a D-Day grilling on Friday amid claims of a vicious power struggle.Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner is due to be probed by a lawyer over shock allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner is due to be probed by a lawyer over shock allegationsCredit: Getty
      Wife Geri, 51, is standing by Horner, 50, who denies the allegationsCredit: Getty
      Horner with Red Bull’s three-time F1 world champ Max VerstappenCredit: Getty
      Sources say the investigation is set to centre on a female employee’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.”
      One F1 source claimed a deliberate attempt was being made to destabilise Horner. Rumours of a power struggle have dogged Red Bull Racing since the death of his ally and billionaire co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      Last year, Horner played down rumours of a rift with adviser Helmut Marko, 80, as a “small difference of opinion”.
      Wife Geri, 51, is standing by Horner, 50, who denies the allegations.
      An independent lawyer appointed to examine the woman’s claims will quiz him at a UK meeting on Friday.
      Neither Horner nor his accuser have been suspended and continue to work among 1,600 employees at the Austrian team’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
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      Another source said: “It’s an awkward situation but it’s unavoidable until the air is cleared and this matter is resolved.”
      Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race meeting of the new F1 season, which starts in Bahrain at the end of the month.
      Since Horner took over as team principal in 2005, Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles. Top driver Max Verstappen is current world champion.
      Red Bull Racing referred all inquiries to its Austrian HQ yesterday. A spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
      When asked about allegations made against Horner, his rival team boss at Williams, James Vowles, said: “I think it means we all have to look each other in the mirror and make sure we are posing the right questions internally and acting in a way that we can only be proud of, not today but in the next ten years.”
      Max Verstappen’s race engineer admits ‘biggest fear’ he’s ‘not looking forward to’ after Red Bull’s dominant F1 season More

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      Shock ‘contract clause could see Red Bull lose ANOTHER key man’ if Christian Horner is sacked by F1 team

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      RED BULL RACING could potentially lose another key man if Christian Horner departs due to a contract clause, claims a shock report.Motorsports was rocked on Monday when an investigation was launched into team boss Horner over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.
      Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner has denied the shock allegations against himCredit: PA
      Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer of Red Bull, could also potentially depart, reports claimCredit: Getty
      The Formula One team are looking into claims made against the 50-year-old by an employee of the company.
      Horner, the husband of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has “completely” denied the claims made against him.
      Sources say the allegation concerns Horner’s strict work regime rather than sexual impropriety.
      But Red Bull, who boast the current world champion Max Verstappen as their star man, said it “takes these matters extremely seriously” as an independent investigation was launched.
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      Horner, who earns an estimated salary of £8million at Red Bull, and the team have been preparing for the 2024 season.
      But the team’s plans could have been thrown into turmoil following these explosive allegations.
      And F1 journalist Joe Saward has now taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to claim that things could get even worse.
      He speculated over the future of Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey amid the Horner controversy.
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      He wrote: “It has long been believed that Christian Horner and Adrian Newey have contracts that protect one another.
      “If one leaves the other can as well.
      “This has never been confirmed – but it makes for an interesting dynamic if something was to happen to Horner…”
      Did Charles Leclerc drop secret hint about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari from Mercedes in awkward interview LAST YEAR?
      The 65-year-old Newey has been with the team since 2006.
      The first race of the upcoming campaign is in Bahrain on March 2.
      Horner has been leading the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull since their arrival on the grid in 2005 and has overseen a huge period of success.
      Red Bull has won seven drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships under him and they won 21 of the 22 races as Verstappen claimed the drivers’ title last season.
      Away from the track, Horner married Geri, 51, in 2015 and they have one child together, Montague, seven.
      Horner is also stepdad to Geri’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 17, and has another daughter, Olivia, 10, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN 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, pipping 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

      🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

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      Red Bull boss Christian Horner faces crunch meeting on Friday after ‘inappropriate behaviour’ accusations by colleague

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      CHRISTIAN Horner is set to face a crunch meeting over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.The Red Bull Racing chief, 50, is being investigated over claims made by a female colleague.
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner is under investigation over allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’Credit: Getty
      Max Verstappen and Horner pose after the Qatar Grand Prix in October last yearCredit: Getty
      The female staffer is understood to have complained about Horner – pictured with wife Geri – to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in AustriaCredit: PA
      Horner tied the knot with Geri, 51, in 2015 and have one child togetherCredit: Instagram / gerihalliwellhorner
      Horner, who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and runs the team of world champion Max Verstappen, said: “I completely deny these claims.”
      The woman is understood to have complained to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in Austria about “inappropriate behaviour”.
      Horner is now the focus of a probe being run by an independent lawyer appointed to examine her allegations.
      The F1 chief will be quizzed on Friday by an investigator instructed by Red Bull in Austria.
      Read more on Horner
      It is understood the hearing will take place in the UK.
      F1 sources said the allegations against Horner could jeopardise his position at the helm of the Red Bull team.
      On Tuesday, Horner fulfilled his work schedule as planned.
      He’s expected to be in the office on Wednesday as Red Bull prepare their F1 car for the 2024 season – set to be launched on February 15.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He was preparing for Red Bull’s defence of their championship titles when news of the colleague’s accusation against him broke.
      The internal investigation has rocked the F1 operation ahead of the new season – which kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Horner has won 13 titles with the Milton Keynes-based team – and has a notoriously-high worth ethic and expects similar from his staff.
      His drive has seen the team achieve considerable success since he joined in 2005.
      He set about signing key employees to achieve success – including design whizz Andrian Newey, who joined from McLaren the following year, and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, from Benetton.
      60 Second News Briefing – Christian Horner investigated and Taylor Swift Grammy’s win
      Newey, F1’s greatest designer, has formed a strong partnership with Horner and there has been a long-standing rumour that the two’s contracts are linked, binding both with the team.
      Red Bull Racing are looking to defend their constructors and drivers’ championship titles in the 2024 season.
      But before the investigation was revealed, it is understood trouble was already brewing beneath the surface at Red Bull Racing.
      Rumours of an unrelated power struggle within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.
      Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      Formula 1 reporter Erik van Haren said the power struggle appears to be coming to a “climax now”.
      The next step will depend on the outcome of Friday’s meeting and the support of Red Bull’s Thai owner.
      Wife Geri, 51, was standing by him last night, telling pals she does not believe gossip that has been swirling for days.
      A source close to the Ginger Spice star said: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
      “She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Red Bull Racing’s Austria-based parent company said: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
      “This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      “The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
      A Red Bull Racing source said: “Nothing further is being added to ensure the integrity of the investigation is respected.”
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN 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, pipping 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

      Horner and his colleague Dr Helmut MarkoCredit: Getty
      Max Verstappen and Horner before the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November 2022Credit: Getty
      Horner with wife Geri Halliwell last FebruaryCredit: PA More

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      Christian Horner went from failed driver to youngest F1 boss…but whirlwind wedding to wife Geri Horner caused family row

      by

      RED Bull boss Christian Horner is well used to steering himself through personal crises.The F1 boss, 50, who is facing accusations of “controlling behaviour” from a female colleague, fell out with his parents after he left the mother of his first child and got engaged to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 51.
      Red Bull F1 chief Christian Horner with wife Geri HalliwellCredit: Getty
      Spice Girl Geri and Christian on their wedding dayCredit: Splash News
      His mum and dad didn’t attend the couple’s star studded wedding in 2015, reportedly because they were upset about him leaving his partner of 14 years, Beverley Allen.
      Eventually, though, Christian managed to patch things up with both Beverley and his parents.
      The controversial Red Bull boss has also rowed with rival F1 bosses – and there is reportedly an ongoing feud with Mercedes’ racing chief Toto Wolff.
      It stems from accusations that Red Bull broke budget rules and benefitted from rule bending when their driver Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the F1 championship in 2021.
      Read More on F1
      Christian also had to overcome the failure of his own career as a racing driver, quitting at 25.
      He did so by borrowing money and putting his energy into establishing his own team.
      The hard-working team boss is said to have never missed a day at the track, even for the birth of his first child.
      Now there are rumours of a power struggle within Red Bull, a battle that could be Christian’s toughest yet.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Christian with his ex, Beverley AllenCredit: Desmond O’Neill Features Ltd
      The Austrian company has hired an independent barrister to investigate claims of “inappropriate behaviour” by the F1 chief.
      Multi-millionaire Christian has denied the allegations and is expected to stay on as boss while the probe is carried out.
      Geri Horner threw celeb-packed 50th birthday bash – but one Spice Girl did not attend
      He’s sure to do everything to hold onto his role, having once said: “I never struggle for motivation. Motivation is something that burns within. 
      “I think winning becomes addictive. It’s the fear of failure that drives all of us at Red Bull.
      “Formula One is such a competitive business that you can’t afford to miss a beat.” 
      Driven dreams
      Christian, from Leamington Spa in Warwickshire, was born into a world of cars, with his wealthy father Garry owning a business that supplied parts to motor manufacturers.
      One of three brothers, he was privately educated and got the racing bug after persuading his parents to buy him a go-kart at the age of 11.
      He said:  “I left school at 18, I didn’t go to university, my focus was very much on racing and forging a career as a driver.”
      Christian aged 20 at the start of his racing careerCredit: Getty
      Christian in British Formula 3 at Silverstone in 1995Credit: Getty
      Aged 19 he started competing for Manor Racing in the British Formula Renault Championship.
      He worked his way up the field to Formula F3000, considered to be the final step to reaching Formula 1.
      But when Juan Pablo Montoya, who progressed to F1, came past him on a very fast corner, Christian realised he didn’t have the right psychological mentality for the daredevil sport.
      He admitted: “The commitment he had, was one I knew my brain and foot just wouldn’t be able to do. I recognised that I wasn’t prepared to take that risk.”
      Team boss
      Aged 25 he quit racing and focused on running the Arden team he’d already set up using borrowed money. 
      For a brief time Arden were part-funded from Russian oil company Lukoil, whose oligarch founder is currently on the UK sanctions list.
      His success at Arden convinced Red Bull to make him the youngest ever F1 team chief in January 2005, with Christian aged just 31.
      I recognised that I wasn’t prepared to take that riskChristian Horner
      He proved to be a dynamic and committed boss.
      Christian promised to jump into a swimming pool in just a Superman cape when the team achieved its first F1 podium, and did exactly that after the car finished in the top three at Monaco in 2006.
      Four years later Red Bull won both its first F1 Constructors Championship and driver’s championship, with a young Sebastian Vettel taking the title.
      Family fall out
      Christian and Geri met thanks to a shared passion for F1Credit: Getty
      Geri’s daughter Bluebell (l), son Monty centre and Christian’s daughter Olivia (r)Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      In his home life things appeared to be settled, with Christian living in a Northamptonshire mansion with his former pub landlady partner Beverley Allen, who is six years his senior.
      He was stepdad to Beverley’s two children, Kieron, 35, and Liam, 31, and the couple were keen to have a child of their own.
      That dream came true when Beverley gave birth to Olivia in October 2013, although Christian couldn’t be there to see his daughter arrive because he was with Red Bull in Japan.
      He said at the time: “I think being a father will be more of a challenge than running a team of over 500 people, but I am looking forward to it.”
      But six months later Christian split from Beverley after 14 years together.
      I think being a father will be more of a challenge than running a team of over 500 people, but I am looking forward to itChristian Horner
      Shortly afterwards in March 2014, he was dating Geri, and by November the couple announced in The Times newspaper that they were engaged.
      Geri had long been an F1 fan and they met through a shared love for motorsport.
      The whirlwind engagement surprised many, because neither Geri, who has a daughter Bluebell, now 17, from a former relationship, nor Christian had previously walked down the aisle.
      It was not welcomed by Christian’s parents Garry and Sara, who refused to attend the wedding at Woburn Abbey in Bedfordshire in May 2015.
      Prior to the nuptials a family member said: “You can say that his parents are absolutely devastated. We won’t be going to the wedding.
      “There is a lot more to this story than people know about – to do with his ex-partner.”
      Healing process
      But Christian managed to heal the family rift by getting back on friendly terms with Beverley.
      In an interview last year he revealed: “I have a great relationship with Beverley, and Beverley gets on with Geri, and Geri is great with Olivia and Olivia has a lovely relationship with Monty.
      “It’s totally harmonious.”
      You can say that his parents are absolutely devastated. We won’t be going to the weddingFamily member
      Monty is Geri and Christian’s seven year-old son. The couple live in a mansion in Oxfordshire with a stable for 14 horses, and Geri is a devoted wife.
      She said in 2015: “I do cook for him, I do like to see that he’s happy. When I go to the Formula 1 races, I’m not about all the glamour.
      “I never thought I’d meet the man who I knew I would be with always. I can be myself with him, I can breathe out. I don’t ever want to get divorced.”
      Trouble ahead
      Christian jumped in a pool in just a Superman capeCredit: Twitter/Planet_F1
      Christian celebrating Red Bull’s championship success in 2012Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      That relaxed family life is in contrast to the stressful world of Formula 1.
      Christian, said to be worth £41million, is known to swear and has admitted to not being on friendly terms with rival Wolff.
      He said: “I’ve never been a believer that you can be the best mate with your competitor. I think it’s dishonest.”
      When Verstappen beat Hamilton to the 2021 F1 championship, he blurted out “Mercedes f****d up.”
      Everything seemed rosy for Christian, who was awarded a CBE in December and was sung to by pals Gary Barlow, Sir Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood at his 50th birthday.
      His Red Bull Team dominated last year’s F1 championship and are favourites to do the same this year.
      I’ve never been a believer that you can be the best mate with your competitor. I think it’s dishonestChristian Horner
      But the death of his mentor and Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in October 2022 is rumoured to have created a power struggle.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business, and former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      The former professional driver has overseen the Red Bull driver development programme since 2005 and was a driving force in bringing Verstappen to the team.
      But speculation was played down, with Horner only acknowledging there had been a “small difference of opinion” between himself and Marko.
      Red Bull is now investigating the allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” against Christian, with the internal inquiry reportedly leaving Geri in “floods of tears”.
      She was standing by her husband last night, telling pals she does not believe gossip that has been swirling for days.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Red Bull issued a statement saying: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
      “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.”
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN 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, pipping 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

      Christian with showbiz pals at his 50th birthdayCredit: Instagram
      Geri and Christian on holidayCredit: Instagram
      Christian and Geri have horse stables at their homeCredit: Instagram
      Christian with Geri and her Spice Girl pals, along with Rylan More