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      Inside Geri and Christian Horner’s rollercoaster love story… from controversial engagement to £80k ring & baby struggles

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      THEIR charmed country life has led to nearly a decade of apparent marital bliss.But Geri Horner was said to be “too upset” to talk to “anyone” this week after her F1 boss husband Christian was hit by allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.
      Geri and Christian Horner married in 2015Credit: Fame Flynet
      Christian’s parents did not attend their wedding after a fallout over his exCredit: Instagram / gerihalliwellhorner
      First introduced to each other by Bernie Ecclestone 15 years ago, the couple are worth an incredible £440million and have piled their fortune into two country manors – including 14 stables for their horses.
      The former Spice Girl, who previously sweared off marriage, was steered down the aisle by the Red Bull Racing chief, who proposed following a whirlwind romance – despite having to Google her before their first date.
      Their engagement hit an early road bump as Christian’s “devastated” parents refused to attend their wedding in 2015 after he moved on swiftly from ex Beverley Allen, whom he was with for 14 years.
      Having put that crisis behind them, he will be hoping to weather another storm as he prepares for a ‘D-Day’ showdown with a lawyer tomorrow.
      Read more on the Spice Girls
      The 50-year-old is accused of “controlling behaviour” with a female work colleague, amid claims he could be gone by “next week” after “losing support” from the Red Bull team.
      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.
      The news has reportedly sent Geri, who is often seen cheering on her husband’s championship-winning team at Grand Prixs, into “full lockdown”.
      But a source told the Mail: “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.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      The couple and their blended family in 2017. Left to right: Bluebell, Montague and OliviaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Geri has been an ever-present fixture at Grand PrixsCredit: Getty
      Whirlwind romance
      Geri first met Christian through her F1 boss pal Bernie Ecclestone after he invited her to the Monaco Grand Prix in 2009.
      Christian told the Telegraph: “(Geri) was a guest of (former CEO of the Formula One Group) Bernie Ecclestone’s in Monaco one year and came down the pit lane.
      Geri Horner transforms into White Spice as she ditches colourful clothes in favour of ‘ladylike’ white outfits
      “I remember (McLaren boss) Ron Dennis was standing next to me and Eddie Jordan was there as well.
      “She gave Ron a kiss on the cheek, and she gave Eddie a kiss on the cheek. So I thought, ‘OK, I’m on for a kiss on the cheek here!’ And I went to give her one and she shoved her hand out at me.”
      At the time, Christian was with his former pub landlady partner Beverley Allen, and was stepdad to her two children, Kieron, 35, and Liam, 31.
      The couple had dreamed of having a child of their own and in October 2013, Beverley gave birth to a daughter, Olivia.
      Sadly, six months after the birth, the couple split and by March 2014, Christian had moved on with Geri.
      I didn’t marry Geri because she’s a Spice Girl. I married her because I fell in love with herChristian
      Remarkably, it later emerged that the racing fanatic had never even heard of one of the Spice Girls’ biggest hits before their first date, according to the Mirror.
      A source told the newspaper: “Before they went on their first date, Christian googled Geri – and found a video of her doing the song.
      “Geri found it hilarious that he had to research her beforehand and the song has become a running joke.”
      Christian later said: “I didn’t marry Geri because she’s a Spice Girl. I married her because I fell in love with her.”
      In October 2014, the new couple announced their engagement in The Times newspaper. Christian proposed with an elegant diamond engagement ring thought to be worth almost £80,000.
      Christian broke up with Beverley Allen shortly before moving on with Geri
      Geri and Christian first met at the Monaco Grand Prix after F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone (pictured) invited herCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Geri said her mother’s divorce had put her off getting married, but that everything had changed after she met Christian.
      She explained: “The thing is my mother, she got divorced so it kind of put me off a bit if I’m honest and I hadn’t met anyone that I felt it was right (with) really.
      “And when I met Christian, I automatically knew, I did, I actually said to my friend, ‘I think I’ve met the man I want to marry’.
      They tied the knot in a stunning ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, in May 2015, with celebrity guests including fellow Spice Girl Emma Bunton, Amanda Holden and Myleene Klass.
      Geri wore a dress by British designer Phillipa Lepley and belted out a solo performance of Wannabe in a cheeky nod to their first date at a reception on the grounds of Woburn Abbey after the wedding.
      Geri and Christian appeared to have the perfect life together from the outsideCredit: social media
      The couple regularly share pictures on social media showing their country pursuitsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      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

      Geri later told Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that her wedding day was the “happiest day of my life”.
      However, it wasn’t as happy an occasion for Christian’s parents, who failed to attend.
      After the engagement was announced, one of his devastated relatives told the Sunday Mirror: “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.”
      However, Christian and Geri, who has a daughter called Bluebell Madonna from a previous relationship, eventually managed to patch things up with his parents and Beverley.
      Christian told the Telegraph: “I have a great relationship with Beverley and Beverley gets on with Geri.
      “It’s totally harmonious.”
      I’d got to thinking I have a child, my husband has a daughter, and accepting this is our lot. Then Monty came naturallyGeri Horner
      Geri and Christian also went through the emotional rollercoaster of IVF treatment before she finally gave birth to their son, Monty, naturally in January 2017.
      She told Red magazine: “I’d tried an assisted route and it didn’t work. 
      “I feel for any woman that has that natural biological longing, it’s tough. 
      “I’d got to thinking I have a child, my husband has a daughter, and accepting this is our lot. Then Monty came naturally.”
      The Spice Girl later admitted that Monty had picked up some of her rebellious traits.
      That same year, she told Hello!: “He’s a pretty chilled baby for the most part, which he gets more from Christian, but then we’ll encounter a bit of protest and I think, ‘Ah, there’s the Halliwell!’.”
      Country life
      In the decade since their marriage, Geri and Christian appear to have blended seamlessly into each others’ lives.
      The former pop star is an ever-present fixture at F1 races, while Christian looks every bit the English gentleman in Instagram posts from their Cotswold bolthole.
      Christian looks ever the English gentleman as he sits atop his horse in a tweed jacketCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      Christian standing on the steps of his luxurious home with daughter OliviaCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      Geri can often be found caring for the animals on their two estates, which are home to horses, chickens, donkeys and goats.
      The couple’s main base is their lavish Grade-II listed mansion in Marston St Lawrence, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.
      The manor house boasts a sprawling garden, a boating lake and a tennis court.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Just last month reports emerged of plans to build a 40ft by 16ft swimming pool, a fountain, a topiary and sunbeds at their Oxfordshire property.
      The pair also own a home in Hertfordshire, where they spent lockdown, and where the Spice Girls reunited for the first time in six years in 2018.
      Geri and Christian meeting the kingCredit: Getty
      The couple have an incredible 14 stablesCredit: Geri Horner/Instagram More

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      British GP will stay at Silverstone for another TEN YEARS as stunning £300million deal is signed

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      BRITISH GP bosses have agreed a new 10-year deal with Formula One keeping the race at Silverstone.The deal is expected to cost around £300 million and run until 2034 – safeguarding the UK’s home race on the F1 calendar.
      Silverstone have announced a new ten-year deal to stay on the F1 calendarCredit: AFP
      Silverstone attracted a record crowd of 480,000 people in 2023Credit: PA
      Last year the race attracted a record crowd of 480,000 across the weekend with more than 60,000 fans camping in the local area.
      This year’s race will be another sell-out boosted by concerts by Stormzy and Kings of Leon.
      Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO of F1, said: “I am delighted to announce that the British Grand Prix will remain on the calendar for ten more years with this agreement.
      “Silverstone is an iconic venue at the heart of F1 history and as it approaches its ninth decade hosting Grands Prix, the event continues to attract fans from around the world for fantastic racing on track and the amazing fan experience off it.”
      READ MORE IN F1
      Stuart Pringle, Chief Executive Officer, of Silverstone, added: “This long-term commitment reflects the importance of the British Grand Prix to F1 and their acknowledgement of our ability to deliver a world-class experience for the British fans who are among the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable in the world.
      “The cheers of support for the home teams, and particularly for the British drivers on the grid, makes the Silverstone atmosphere unique and I am looking forward to harnessing this passion for our sport and taking the event to the next level in the coming decade.”
      The news comes in a busy seven days in which Lewis Hamilton announced his decision to leave Mercedes at the end of this season.
      Meanwhile, Red Bull chief Christian Horner will be quizzed on Friday after an internal investigation into inappropriate behaviour.
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      The Silverstone announcement comes a week after another iconic track, Suzuka, announced a deal to continue hosting F1 races in Japan until 2029.
      Last month F1 also announced the arrival of the Madrid GP to the calendar from 2026 in a ten-year deal.
      The richest Wags in F1 revealed with some earning thousands from Instagram

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      ‘Christian’s done nothing wrong’ Geri Halliwell told pals ahead of Red Bull grilling weeks before their 10th anniversary

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      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.
      Christian Horner of Red Bull Racing and his wife Geri HalliwellCredit: Getty
      Christian Horner was pictured leaving his Highgate home this morning, in what was the first sighting of him since news of the allegations brokeCredit: Ray Collins
      Sources say Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell is now refusing to speak to ‘anyone’Credit: Getty
      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.”
      Read more on Christian Horner
      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “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.”
      Spice Girl Geri Horner posts loved-up message to husband Christian as Red Bull F1 boss turns 50
      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 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

      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.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      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.
      Horner will fight to save his career on Friday
      Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell pose after the F1 Grand Prix of Italy in 2014Credit: Getty More

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      Lewis Hamilton revealed plans to join Ferrari in 2015 in Tokyo bar… years before F1 legend signed £100million deal

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      LEWIS HAMILTON reportedly revealed plans to join Ferrari NINE years before the move was announced. Last week, the seven-time world champion rocked the world of Formula One when he triggered a break clause in his Mercedes contract to head to Ferrari for the 2025 season.
      Lewis Hamilton first revealed his intention to join Ferrari at a Tokyo bar in 2015Credit: EPA
      Hamilton signed a £100m deal to join Ferrari in 2025Credit: PA
      However, it seems these plans have been in the works since 2015 after a chat between Hamilton and Motorsport Magazine’s Matt Bishop was revealed.
      Bishop lifted the lid on a chat between the pair while at F1-favourite Lex Tokyo Lounge Bar in the Roppongi district of Tokyo following the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.
      Then McLaren’s communications director, he explained how he was drinking some beers with his colleagues and mulling over the race at Suzuka, where McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso had been lapped by race winner Hamilton.
      Hamilton – who had only departed McLaren for the Silver Arrows three years prior – eventually arrived at the bar with Mercedes engineers before heading over to chat with Bishop and co.
      READ MORE IN F1
      The pair soon found themselves in a one-on-one chat, where Hamilton confessed to wanting to drive for Ferrari one day.
      Bishop asked: “Do you think you’ll stay at Merc until you retire?”
      To which Hamilton responded: “Well, what I’d really like to do, one day, is drive for Ferrari…
      “Yeah. That would be a great way to end my F1 career, wouldn’t it? To win championships for McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari?”
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      The bar has since closed down, but Hamilton’s dream to race for the Scuderia clearly never did.
      Hamilton’s multi-year contract at the Prancing Horse could prove to be the final transfer of his F1 career given comments he made in the chat.
      Inside Lewis Hamilton’s £13m collection of supercars including £4m classic and £1.6m ride made entirely for him
      In the chat Hamilton also ruled out ever returning to McLaren, stating: “I don’t know. Never go back, they say, don’t they?
      “Sometimes you just feel you’ve been somewhere too long and you need a change.”
      Alpine driver Pierre Gasly revealed he knew about the move for some time.
      Speaking at the launch of Alpine’s 2024 F1 car, he said: “Obviously, he’s been a long time with Mercedes, but I was aware of some talks with Ferrari.
      “Ultimately, he’s towards the end of his career. So it was either now or never.
      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.

      “I think it was kept secret for quite a long time. I just wish him the best. Obviously, it’s sort of exciting with the driver market, and all of you guys come with it, which is normal.
      “But I think ultimately, for the sport, he is the most successful driver of all time joining a new project, a new challenge. I’m sure everybody will follow that very closely.”
      Hamilton’s deal at Ferrari is said to be worth a cool £100million.
      He will become the 12th British driver to race for Ferrari.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Fresh reports claim that Hamilton’s future team-mate Charles Leclerc was left “shocked and disappointed” by the move to sign the 39-year-old.
      However, this stands in contrast to prior reports claiming he was welcoming to the move and Leclerc naming Hamilton as what he looks for in a team-mate.

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      Charles Leclerc left ‘shocked and disappointed’ by Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari and F1 star ‘blindsided’ by decision

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      CHARLES LECLERC has been left “shocked and disappointed” by Ferrari’s move to sign Lewis Hamilton, according to reports. Last week it was announced that seven-time Formula One champion Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025.
      Charles Leclerc is said to have been left ‘shocked and disappointed’ by Ferrari signing Lewis HamiltonCredit: AFP
      Leclerc is also said to have had no idea about the move before signing a new Ferrari dealCredit: 2019 Getty Images
      The Hamilton news came one week after Ferrari signed Leclerc down to a new multi-year contract.
      However, according to a sensational report from Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Leclerc and his entourage were unhappy about the move.
      The report claims the Monegasque has been left “shocked and disappointed” and had no idea the move was in the works.
      He is said to have kept quiet about his feelings until now to not “reveal a weakness”.
      READ MORE IN F1
      This feeling is said to come from the 26-year-old feeling under threat in his position as Ferrari’s No1 driver.
      Since joining the team in 2018, Leclerc has established his position against Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz.
      The claims contradict earlier reports in Italian media which suggested Leclerc was welcoming of Hamilton joining Ferrari.
      Counter reports in Spain say he was in fact aware of the move, with F1 journalist Sergio Rodríguez saying Leclerc was informed of the arrival before renewing his contract.
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      Hamilton broke a number of records while at Mercedes
      Despite talk of their future rivalry, Piero Ferrari – the son of Ferrari founder Enzo and a board member – has said: “Charles is the champion of the future, Ferrari believes in him and has proved it, I think.
      “Hamilton is Hamilton. I don’t see why they should fight.”
      Did Charles Leclerc drop secret hint about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari from Mercedes in awkward interview LAST YEAR?
      In June, Leclerc fuelled rumours that Hamilton was set to move to Ferrari when he was asked what he looked for in a team-mate while in a press conference alongside the Brit, responding by looking at the 39-year-old and saying “Hello Lewis”.
      The Hamilton announcement helped see Ferrari’s market value increase by £3billion.
      Hamilton will become the 12th British driver to race for the Prancing Horse as he looks to become the teams first British champion for 60 years.
      With only eight drivers nailed down to contracts in 2025, there could be widespread change on the grid in 12 months time.

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      F1 team ‘planning to race under TWO names to avoid huge fine’ in history-making decision

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      THE new Stake F1 team could use TWO names to escape a huge fine.The Sauber outfit’s sponsorship from crypto casino operator Stake has created a dilemma with Swiss authorities.
      The Stake F1 Team face another saga after unveiling their new carCredit: AP
      Stake’s C44 was loved by some fans but rated ‘awful’ by othersCredit: AP
      And PlanetF1 suggest the team has come up with an innovative solution ahead of the 2024 season, starting in Bahrain on March 2.
      The official name of Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber will be cut to the more relaxed “Stake F1 Team” for most venues.
      But where gambling advertising is banned, an even more colloquial name will be used – the Kick F1 Team.
      It’s a far more serious matter than the lively debate on social media earlier this week over the dramatic look of Sauber’s new car for this year.
      READ MORE TOP STORIES
      The C44’s brash, lime design was compared to a cross between a Ninja Turtle and The Transformers.
      Now the sponsorship saga is proving a headache for the team, which was backed by Alfa Romeo in the past and will be rebranded as Audi from 2026.
      Sauber’s home country Switzerland is one of the nations with strict controls over gambling ads.
      Such sponsorship is only allowed if the company has a licence – which Stake does not.
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      Other problems include the fact Stake does not advertise to its country’s consumers and is not even accessible there.
      It’s understood breaching the rules can mean a fine of 500.000 Swiss francs – about £460k.
      Swiss publication SRF quote Zurich-based Patrick Krauskopf, Head of the Centre for Competition and Commercial Law as saying: “Sponsorship would be permitted.
      DJ reveals amazing track using sounds from electric motorsport
      “In this case, however, the Stake and Sauber brands are so closely linked and the term Stake is so strongly imprinted in the minds of viewers that we have probably crossed the red line into unauthorised advertising.”
      It means the Swiss Federal Gaming Board is probing Sauber’s general agreement with Stake – but PlanetF1.com believes this is just a routine check. More

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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.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      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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      in Motorsport

      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.
      Most read in Motorsport
      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