Motorsport

Subterms

    More stories

    • 213 Shares149 Views

      in Motorsport

      Geri Halliwell kisses scandal-hit husband Christian Horner in huge show of support at F1 amid sext storm

      by

      GERI Halliwell has broken cover in Bahrain to stand by her husband Christian Horner despite the couple being rocked by his Red Bull sext scandal.The Spice Girl, 51, landed in Bahrain on Thursday night but had since been laying low amid fears more bombshell messages could be leaked.Pictures showed Geri Horner and her husband sharing an intimate moment before the opening race of the seasonCredit: GettyThe couple are said to be in crisis after seedy messages sent to an employee by Horner were leakedCredit: PAChristian Horner and Geri Halliwell pictured together at the Bahrain Grand Prix on SaturdayCredit: GettyThe scandal-hit couple were pictured holding handsCredit: GettyGeri landed in Bahrain on Thursday night but hadn’t been seen until todayCredit: PAA smiley Geri puts on a brave face before the Bahrain Grand PrixDespite the storm surrounding her marriage with scandal-hit Horner, Geri decided to show up for her husband as the pair were pictured together at the Grand Prix.Mobbed by photographers, the pair climbed the steps to the hospitality unit.Geri and Horner were said to stay inside for a few minutes before speaking with guests outside on the patio area.The couple then went back inside.Read more on Geri HalliwellPictures also showed the husband and wife sharing an intimate kiss moments before the opening race of the season. The Spice Girl went for her signature white outfit, which she is known for wearing at F1 races.It comes asMost read in MotorsportThe dazzling Spice Girl was seen sporting her signature white outfit, a classic choice for F1 racesCredit: PAThe couple was seen together and smiling at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: PAThe pair was mobbed by photographers as they walked along the paddockCredit: GettyGeri reportedly went ‘into meltdown’ when she landed in Bahrain to discover Horner’s sext leakCredit: APIt comes after Geri was said to have “felt like a fool” for trusting her “prince charming” husband after he played down sexting claims.The singer is now facing “the biggest decision of her life” as she is deciding what the next move in her marriage with Horner will be, her friends said.She will most likely bunker down in the couple’s Cotswolds country home and make her decision behind closed doors, the Daily Mail reported.Friends of the star reportedly stated it would “break her heart” to end things with Christian, whom she considers the “Prince Charming” she has waited for since she was a little girl.An insider said: “She acts on impulse a lot. She has a temper on her, that’s for sure, and doesn’t Christian know it.”But the question now that her inner circle is asking is whether Christian will be sent to the dog house for a few days or whether this is it for good.A source close to the pop star, who was on a Bahrain-bound private jet when the messages emerged, told The Sun Horner tried to play down the scandal.Christian Horner breaks silence on alleged leaksThey said: “Geri is heartbroken and feels utterly humiliated. She trusted him when he tried to play down the scandal.“He always told her he’d done nothing wrong. This will really hurt Geri, who has put everything into their marriage.””She worked hard for all of this, she jumped through hoops to get him, so will she dump him?”It is understood Geri went “into meltdown” when she landed in Bahrain to discover Horner’s sext leak.Her concerned pals added she seemed “fragile” when they saw her a few weeks ago.Earlier today, a smiling Christian Horner appeared to have shrugged off his sext scandal as he arrived alone at the Bahrain Grand Prix.The Red Bull Racing chief was pictured focused and ready to take on the 2024 Formula One season.But soon after his star driver Max Verstappen said the team principal is “probably a little bit distracted” as he faces more questions over his sext probe, Sky News reported.He said: “It’s not our business. “When I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss, so absolutely from the performance side of things, you can’t even question that.”So that’s what I am also dealing with. I speak to Christian a lot, and also of course throughout the weekend here he is fully committed to the team.Verstappen added: “He’s also here for the performance, of course probably a little bit distracted, but like I said before, we just focus on the performance things and that’s how we all work together.”READ MORE SUN STORIESHorner said he “won’t comment on anonymous speculation” after material reported to have been part of Red Bull’s recent inquiry into him was leaked.The racing chief previously refused to comment on the leaked WhatsApp sexts, which were sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets on Thursday.A smiling Christian Horner was seen today at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: PAThe Red Bull Racing boss seemed to have shrugged off his sext bombshell scandalCredit: PAHorner with his wife Geri Halliwell pictured at the F1 Monaco Grand Prix last MayCredit: GettyHow Christian Horner’s shock texts were leakedBy Ben Hunt

      IT was an anonymous email sent and designed for maximum impact.
      It landed in my inbox almost 24 hours to the minute since Christian Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing following Red Bull’s internal investigation.
      Other names included Liberty Media chief Greg Maffei, who owns the rights to F1. The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Dominacali.
      The F1 team bosses were also included for good measure. As was Max Verstappen’s father, Jos.
      It was from an anonymous sender, the title was simply the date – ‘Feb Twenty Nine’.
      Inside it was a Google Drive link containing 79 files claiming to be the evidence from the independent investigation.
      There is no way of knowing if they were real or fake yet irrespectively it sent another shockwave through the F1 paddock before this season had even started.
      Horner was sitting on the team’s pitwall during second practice in Bahrain when the email dropped.
      After the session, he walked out of the team’s garage and into the hospitality unit where he remained as the nuclear fallout began.
      He’d survived the outcome of the internal investigation into improper conduct following a complaint from a female colleague.
      One wonders whether he will survive this time after this very public humiliation – again, irrespective if they were indeed real or fake.
      Just hours earlier, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, called on the sport’s governing body, the FIA, demanding transparency.
      “I just read the statement, which was pretty basic,” said Wolff. “My personal opinion is we can’t really look behind the curtain.
      “There is a lady in an organisation that has spoken to HR and said there was an issue and it was investigated and yesterday the sport has received the message that it’s all fine, we’ve looked at it.
      “I believe with the aspiration as a global sport, on such critical topics, it needs more transparency and I wonder what the sport’s position is?
      “We’re competitors, we’re a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not. But it’s more like a general reaction or action that we as a sport need to assess, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.
      “Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values based on the speculation that is out there? As a sport, we cannot afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this, because this is going to catch us out.”
      Brown added: “It’s the responsibility ultimately of the organisers of Formula One, the owners of Formula One, to make sure that all the racing teams and the personnel and the drivers and everyone else involved in the sport are operating in a manner in which we all live by.
      “I don’t think it’s the teams’ roles and responsibilities. That’s up to FIA and Formula One to ultimately decide and ask what they feel gives them the level of transparency they need to ultimately come to their conclusion and we just have to count on them that they fulfil that obligation to all of us.”
      The emailed file will only increase that pressure in the form of scrutiny on Horner – who has always denied the accusations.
      It does also put Red Bull in a tricky position.
      Should the emailed file be legitimate and have made up elements from the initial report, which had been thoroughly examined and presented by the independent KC, then surely this is nothing new to them and their decision to stick with their team principal remains.
      To perform a u-turn on that simply now they have become public would possibly see criticism that they intended to keep their report private to save face.
      Whatever the outcome, it is a mess for the world champions.Reports of a wedge driven between Horner and Verstappen’s father have grown in recent weeks.
      So it was interesting that Jos Verstappen was in the paddock and wearing a team jacket and seemed unmoved to the chaos happening around him More

    • 225 Shares159 Views

      in Motorsport

      F1 supremo Mohammed Ben Sulayem breaks silence on Christian Horner sext scandal after showdown with Red Bull chief

      by

      FORMULA ONE chief Mohammed Ben Sulayem has broken his silence after his showdown with Christian Horner.The FIA president sat down for crunch talks with Horner on Friday amid the Red Bull team principal’s sext scandal. Christian Horner met with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem for talks on FridayCredit: GettyThe Red Bull boss arrived at the Bahrain International Circuit on his ownCredit: GettyHorner’s wife Geri Halliwell, pictured together in 2023, is in BahrainCredit: GettyHorner was cleared in an internal investigation of any wrongdoing towards a female staffer on Wednesday.But 24 hours later, a vast trove of intimate texts between the Red Bull chief and a female colleague were leaked, initially to F1 bosses and media outlets.Then on Friday, Horner met with Ben Sulayem on the day before the new 2024 season gets underway in Bahrain. And now the Emirati ex-rally driver has admitted the Horner saga is having a negative impact which is overshadowing the sport.READ MORE ON HORNERBen Sulayem told the Financial Times: “It’s damaging the sport.”This is damaging on a human level.”He also added that the FIA are not planning to investigate Horner at this stage as there has been no official complaint to the organisation. Horner has denied any wrongdoing and refuses to comment on the allegations.Most read in MotorsportHe was spotted smiling as he arrived alone for the curtain-raising Grand Prix on Saturday morning where his driver Max Verstappen starts on pole. The 50-year-old was also seen pacing around the paddock and hospitality area at the circuit, stopping to check his phone and sign autographs for children.Christian Horner breaks silence on alleged leaksHorner’s wife Geri Halliwell was left “heartbroken and humiliated” after hundreds of sexts sent by her hubby to a female employee were leaked.The Spice Girl, 51, touched down in Bahrain on Thursday night just as the bombshell messages began to spread around the globe.Geri reportedly refused to see her husband after his sext leak but was talked into it by his family.Some of the grubby messages were reported, including a request for a “Santa PJ selfie”.It comes asHe also regularly joked about Spanx, telling the woman she looks “attractive” in them.In another, Horner starts by asking if he can make a “confession”.He then describes a trip on a private jet to Dubai where he claims that the woman got him “out of control”.The Sun learned that Geri knew of the female employee at the centre of the texting scandal. READ MORE SUN STORIESA Red Bull insider said she even approved of the woman working in Horner’s team.It comes after a mole close to the Red Bull Racing camp allegedly detonated the Christian Horner sexting scandal in a bid to oust the F1 team boss, The Sun revealed.He will hope to put his sext saga aside for the opening Grand PrixCredit: PAThe couple were out in public together at the horses last monthCredit: Alamy🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁  More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Geri Halliwell ‘feels a fool’ for trusting ‘prince charming’ hubby Christian Horner after he ‘played down’ sext scandal

      by

      GERI Halliwell is said to have “felt like a fool” for trusting her “prince charming” husband Christian Horner after he played down sexting claims.The Spice Girl, 51, touched down in Bahrain on Thursday night just as her husband’s bombshell sexts began to spread around the globe.Geri, pictured with Horner at the Monaco GP, has not yet been spotted at the circuit in BahrainCredit: GettyThe former Spice Girl touched down in Bahrain on Thursday night and was reportedly adamant about not seeing her husbandCredit: AFPRed Bull Racing chief Horner was spotted today arriving solo at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: GettyThe singer is now facing “the biggest decision of her life” as she is deciding what the next move in her marriage with Horner will be, her friends said.She will most likely bunker down in the couple’s Cotswolds country home and make her decision behind closed doors, the Daily Mail reported.Friends of the star reportedly stated it would “break her heart” to end things with Christian, whom she considers the “Prince Charming” she has waited for since she was a little girl.An insider said: “She acts on impulse a lot. She has a temper on her, that’s for sure, and doesn’t Christian know it.Read more on Geri Halliwell”But the question now that her inner circle is asking is whether Christian will be sent to the dog house for a few days or whether this is it for good.A source close to the pop star, who was on a Bahrain-bound private jet when the messages emerged, told The Sun Horner tried to play down the scandal.They said: “Geri is heartbroken and feels utterly humiliated. She trusted him when he tried to play down the scandal.“He always told her he’d done nothing wrong. This will really hurt Geri, who has put everything into their marriage.”Most read in Motorsport”She worked hard for all of this, she jumped through hoops to get him, so will she dump him?”It is understood Geri went “into meltdown” when she landed in Bahrain to discover Horner’s sext leak.Her concerned pals added she seemed “fragile” when they saw her a few weeks ago.A source also told The Mirror: “Geri has been locked in crisis talks with her team this week about how to manage all of this.Christian Horner cleared following investigation into ‘inappropriate behaviour'”Christian had played down the whole affair to her, but she can’t bear the fact it is now all out in the open.”She feels like a fool. It has really taken its toll on her and she told pals this week she would not be in Bahrain.Geri was also said to be adamant about not seeing her husband, but Horner’s mother pleaded with her to publicly support him as a gesture of solidarity, The Mirror reported.An insider said: “She was adamant she wouldn’t be there, she would not pretend like ­everything was OK.”But Christian’s mum has been leaning on her heavily to stand by his side, and publicly back him, and her pleas seem to have worked.”Her own team had been urging her to keep her distance and seek advice.She feels like a foolSource close to Geri HalliwellThe source added: “They are worried about the impact on both her personally and her brand and want her to pause and consider her next move carefully.”She feels ­incredibly torn between the two camps. It’s a horrific situation for her to be in, and it is growing worse by the minute.”It is yet to be seen if she will be joining Horner at the paddock in Bahrain as her husband was pictured today arriving solo at the Grand Prix.It is also understood that Geri has been left “distraught and devastated” over the scandal, which Horner, 50, had repeatedly played down.The devastating trove of texts sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets confirmed Horner did send inappropriate messages behind Geri’s back, despite being cleared in a Red Bull probe.She was adamant she wouldn’t be there, she would not pretend like ­everything was OKSource close to Geri HalliwellMeanwhile, The Sun has learned that Geri knew of the female employee at the centre of the texting scandal. A Red Bull insider said she even approved of the woman working in Horner’s team.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt was also claimed yesterday that the employee was “unhappy” after the messages were leaked and believed the probe into his behaviour had been “one-sided”.A friend said: “We speak every day and she’s very unhappy – of course. In her way of thinking it’s all very one-sided and she has been crucified.”Friends of Geri, pictured with Horner on the grid at the Monaco GP, said she ‘feels like a fool’ for trusting her husbandCredit: GettyThe texts sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets confirmed Horner did send inappropriate messages behind Geri’s back, despite being cleared in a Red Bull probeCredit: PAHow Christian Horner’s shock texts were leakedBy Ben Hunt
      IT was an anonymous email sent and designed for maximum impact.
      It landed in my inbox almost 24 hours to the minute since Christian Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing following Red Bull’s internal investigation.
      Other names included Liberty Media chief Greg Maffei, who owns the rights to F1. The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Dominacali.
      The F1 team bosses were also included for good measure. As was Max Verstappen’s father, Jos.
      It was from an anonymous sender, the title was simply the date – ‘Feb Twenty Nine’.
      Inside it was a Google Drive link containing 79 files claiming to be the evidence from the independent investigation.
      There is no way of knowing if they were real or fake yet irrespectively it sent another shockwave through the F1 paddock before this season had even started.
      Horner was sitting on the team’s pitwall during second practice in Bahrain when the email dropped.
      After the session, he walked out of the team’s garage and into the hospitality unit where he remained as the nuclear fallout began.
      He’d survived the outcome of the internal investigation into improper conduct following a complaint from a female colleague.
      One wonders whether he will survive this time after this very public humiliation – again, irrespective if they were indeed real or fake.
      Just hours earlier, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, called on the sport’s governing body, the FIA, demanding transparency.
      “I just read the statement, which was pretty basic,” said Wolff. “My personal opinion is we can’t really look behind the curtain.
      “There is a lady in an organisation that has spoken to HR and said there was an issue and it was investigated and yesterday the sport has received the message that it’s all fine, we’ve looked at it.
      “I believe with the aspiration as a global sport, on such critical topics, it needs more transparency and I wonder what the sport’s position is?
      “We’re competitors, we’re a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not. But it’s more like a general reaction or action that we as a sport need to assess, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.
      “Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values based on the speculation that is out there? As a sport, we cannot afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this, because this is going to catch us out.”
      Brown added: “It’s the responsibility ultimately of the organisers of Formula One, the owners of Formula One, to make sure that all the racing teams and the personnel and the drivers and everyone else involved in the sport are operating in a manner in which we all live by.
      “I don’t think it’s the teams’ roles and responsibilities. That’s up to FIA and Formula One to ultimately decide and ask what they feel gives them the level of transparency they need to ultimately come to their conclusion and we just have to count on them that they fulfil that obligation to all of us.”
      The emailed file will only increase that pressure in the form of scrutiny on Horner – who has always denied the accusations.
      It does also put Red Bull in a tricky position.
      Should the emailed file be legitimate and have made up elements from the initial report, which had been thoroughly examined and presented by the independent KC, then surely this is nothing new to them and their decision to stick with their team principal remains.
      To perform a u-turn on that simply now they have become public would possibly see criticism that they intended to keep their report private to save face.
      Whatever the outcome, it is a mess for the world champions.Reports of a wedge driven between Horner and Verstappen’s father have grown in recent weeks.
      So it was interesting that Jos Verstappen was in the paddock and wearing a team jacket and seemed unmoved to the chaos happening around him More

    • 250 Shares129 Views

      in Motorsport

      Smiling Christian Horner shrugs off sext scandal at F1 as ‘humiliated’ Geri lays low amid fears MORE messages will leak

      by

      A SMILING Christian Horner appears to have shrugged off his sext scandal as he arrived alone at the Bahrain Grand Prix today.Geri Halliwell landed in Bahrain on Thursday night but has since been laying low amid fears more bombshell messages could be leaked.A smiling Christian Horner was seen today at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: PAThe Red Bull Racing boss seemed to have shrugged off his sext bombshell scandalCredit: PAHorner with his wife Geri Halliwell pictured at the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco last MayCredit: GettyMeanwhile, the Red Bull Racing chief was seen today focused and ready to take on the 2024 Formula One season.Horner was pictured on his own today walking into the paddock ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix.The former Spice Girl, 51, is expected to join her husband on the paddock later today as Red Bull bosses confirmed to The Daily Mail.Horner was previously snapped at a practice session in Bahrain with driver Max Verstappen making preparations ahead of Friday’s qualifying.He was also seen pacing from the hospitality area to the team’s garage, stopping only to check his phone and to sign autographs for waiting children.The trove of texts sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets confirmed Horner did send inappropriate messages behind his wife Geri Halliwell’s back, despite being cleared in a Red Bull probe.The team boss refused to comment on the leaked WhatsApp sexts.Some of the grubby messages were reported, including a request for a “Santa PJ selfie”.Most read in MotorsportHe also regularly joked about Spanx, telling the woman she looks “attractive” in them.In another, Horner starts by asking if he can make a “confession”.Christian Horner cleared following investigation into ‘inappropriate behaviour’He then describes a trip on a private jet to Dubai where he claims that the woman got him “out of control”.It was reported that the Red Bull chief – who has won 13 world titles since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005 – had been hauled in for crisis talks with F1 bosses.The tension was palpable down in the paddock, with Red Bull team members avoiding mentioning the simmering scandal, other than the odd whisper.Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell was left “heartbroken and humiliated” after hundreds of sexts sent by her hubby to a female employee were leaked.The Spice Girl, 51, touched down in Bahrain on Thursday night just as the bombshell messages began to spread around the globe.Geri reportedly refused to see her husband after his sext leak but was talked into it by his family.She was said to be adamant about not seeing her husband, but Horner’s mother pleaded with her to publicly support him as a gesture of solidarity, The Mirror reported.A source close to the pop star, who was on a Bahrain-bound private jet when the messages emerged, told The Sun: “Geri is heartbroken and feels utterly humiliated. She trusted him when he tried to play down the scandal.“He always told her he’d done nothing wrong. This will really hurt Geri, who has put everything into their marriage.”It comes asMeanwhile, The Sun has learned that Geri knew of the female employee at the centre of the texting scandal. A Red Bull insider said she even approved of the woman working in Horner’s team.It was also claimed yesterday that the employee was “unhappy” after the messages were leaked and believed the probe into his behaviour had been “one-sided”.A friend said: “We speak every day and she’s very unhappy – of course. In her way of thinking it’s all very one-sided and she has been crucified.”It comes after a mole close to the Red Bull Racing camp allegedly detonated the Christian Horner sexting scandal in a bid to oust the F1 team boss, The Sun can reveal.Red Bull are investigating claims that an unknown player connected to the team orchestrated the WhatsApp leak and acted as a “puppet master”.The anonymous release came a day after team principal Horner was cleared of sending improper texts to a female employee.An F1 insider told The Sun: “Rumours are swirling at Red Bull that there’s a mole in their ranks, someone who has it in for Christian.“The leak came as a shock. Someone has a vendetta against Christian.”That person acted like a puppet master.“It seems to have been calculated to cause maximum damage to Christian’s career, humiliating him just 24 hours before the F1 season begins.READ MORE SUN STORIES“He believes someone set out to destroy him professionally and personally.”But the team stands firmly behind Christian and everyone’s working towards a common goal.”A calm Christian talking to fellow Red Bull staff ahead of this afternoon’s raceCredit: PAHorner arrived on his own at the Bahrain International Circuit on SaturdayCredit: GettyChristian Horner had hundreds of sexts sent by him to a female employee leakedCredit: GettyRed Bull Racing star Max Verstappen arriving at the Bahrain Grand PrixCredit: GettyTheRed Bull Racing team principal was seen on his phone ahead of Practice 3 at the Bahrain International CircuitCredit: PAChristian Horner, left, speaks with Red Bull driver Max VerstappenCredit: APHorner pictured during the third free practice session at the Bahrain International CircuitCredit: RexHorner speaking to FIA president Mohammed bin SulayemCredit: AFP More

    • 100 Shares129 Views

      in Motorsport

      Who are Christian Horner’s parents Garry and Sara?

      by

      CHRISTIAN Horner became the youngest ever team principal when he was appointed head of Red Bull Racing.He’s been making headlines since early February 2024 for allegedly texting “inappropriate” messages to a female colleague — here we take a look at the racing man’s parents Garry and Sara.Christan Horner with his mother Sara and wife GeriCredit: InstagramWho is Christian Horner’s father Garry?Christian, 50, from Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was born into a family of motor enthusiasts.His grandfather was the purchasing manager at the Standard Motor Company, Coventry, before setting up a business supplying parts to motor manufacturers with his son Garry — Christian’s father.You can say that his parents are absolutely devastated. We won’t be going to the weddingA family memberGarry also helped Christian set up his racing team Arden in 1997 by supplying his son with a loan.Speaking of his early life, Christian 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.”READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNERWho is Christian Horner’s mother Sara?Sara, Christian’s mother, prefers to keep her personal information out of the public eye.Aside from a couple of photos on her son’s social media, there is practically no trace of her online.Motor racing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messagesWhy did Christian Horner’s parents snub his wedding?Before marrying Scary Spice, Christian lived 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.Most read in MotorsportThat dream came true when Beverley gave birth to Olivia in October 2013, but Christian couldn’t be at the birth of his daughter 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.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, meeting Christian through a shared love for motorsport — and before long they were betrothed.Many people were surprised by the whirlwind engagement because neither Geri, who has a daughter Bluebell, now 17, from a former relationship, nor Christian had previously walked down the aisle.The news was not welcomed by Christian’s parents Garry and Sara, who did not attend the couple’s star studded 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.”Eventually, Christian managed to patch things up with both his parents and Beverley.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn a 2023 interview 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 [Christian and Geri’s son].”It’s totally harmonious.”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 More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Mole close to Red Bull Racing camp ‘detonated Christian Horner sexting scandal to oust the F1 team boss’

      by

      A MOLE close to the Red Bull Racing camp allegedly detonated the Christian Horner sexting scandal in a bid to oust the F1 team boss, The Sun can reveal.Red Bull are investigating claims that an unknown player connected to the team orchestrated the WhatsApp leak and acted as a “puppet master”.A MOLE close to the Red Bull Racing camp allegedly detonated the Christian Horner sexting scandal, The Sun can revealCredit: PAThe anonymous release came a day after team principal Horner was cleared of sending improper texts to a female employee.Last night, an F1 insider told The Sun: “Rumours are swirling at Red Bull that there’s a mole in their ranks, someone who has it in for Christian.“The leak came as a shock. Someone has a vendetta against Christian.”That person acted like a puppet master.READ MORE CHRISTIAN HORNER“It seems to have been calculated to cause maximum damage to Christian’s career, humiliating him just 24 hours before the F1 season begins.“He believes someone set out to destroy him professionally and personally. “But the team stands firmly behind Christian and everyone’s working towards a common goal.”Qualifying for today’s Grand Prix went ahead at the Bahrain circuit yesterday.Most read in MotorsportMotor racing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messages More

    • 225 Shares129 Views

      in Motorsport

      Geri Halliwell ‘left humiliated’ as she faces ‘worst PR crisis of her career’ amid Christian Horner sexting scandal

      by

      ON January 29 this year, Geri Horner, née Halliwell, took to Instagram for the last time.To her 1.4million followers she posted a glamorous, heavily airbrushed magazine cover of herself, headlined “Perfect”.Geri Halliwell’s life now seems far from ‘perfect’ after being publicly humiliated with infidelity claims against her husbandCredit: RexRed Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner has been accused of ‘sexting’ another womanCredit: GettySocial media is, indeed, a cruel beast. Fast-forward five weeks, and the poor, very publicly humiliated star’s life seems anything but.At 3.45pm on an otherwise non- descript Thursday — although, ironically, a leap year when women are encouraged to subvert tradition and propose to their men — Geri discovered husband Christian Horner was caught sexting another woman.Sure, there is no suggestion of a physical affair, but 79 leaked WhatsApp messages show her husband clearly was in the throes of an emotional one.(A nadir, of course, that he nipped to an aeroplane toilet to self-pleasure).READ MORE GERI HORNERIn the words of the Spice Girls themselves, “Stop right now, thank you very much.”Indeed, for a woman who has spent the past 30 years espousing Girl Power, the situation in which she now finds herself is anything but.It is, though, one that millions of women have found themselves in since time immemorial — a libido-led husband.But few have had their relationship meltdowns played out on such a global scale.Most read in MotorsportOne can only imagine the sheer inner turmoil the heartbroken superstar must now be battling.The Spice & Speed Empire: Christian and Geri Horner’s £50M JourneyUtterly devastatingPutting the obvious personal trauma aside, put simply, as PR nightmares go, this doesn’t get much worse.A source close to Geri said yesterday: “This is humiliation on an international scale for Geri, and it’s almost impossible to imagine what she’s going through right now.“Christian has always privately asserted that the claims levelled against him were nonsense.“She’s not the type of woman to go through someone’s phone, so to see these in black and white after all his protestations of innocence is utterly devastating.“Geri has been bombarded with messages of support, and texts checking in on her, but she’s largely shutting everyone out, and simply trying to put one foot in front of the other.“Of course, to leave Christian — and walk away from the blissful life they’ve built for themselves — would be the ultimate act of ‘girl power’.“But as anyone with kids knows — not to mention a hinterland of love and connection — that is easier said than done.”Geri has been bombarded with messages of support amid the claims against her husbandCredit: Doug Seeburg – The SunTo further rub salt into the wound, today alienated Geri has awoken 3,000 miles from home, in the Middle East. For a woman idolised by millions, never will she have felt more alone.Geri was already safely ensconced on a private jet heading to Bahrain, where Christian is attending today’s Grand Prix — having a combined marital fortune of £480million does have its perks — when the tranche of messages were leaked.It was too late to turn the plane around. Her day from hell had begun. Whatever happens now, Geri would do well to “own” the narrative.Geri knows of this woman, and had no qualms about their working relationshipRed Bull insiderTo either come out swinging — issue a statement saying she and Christian have no secrets and made the joint decision to move on and make a go of things.Or hire a pitbull divorcee lawyer, and hit the Red Bull boss where it hurts.Whether she does either remains to be seen. I’m told Geri is now directing media inquiries to her legal team.But not even the best lawyer in the world can undo time, or take back those damning messages.Former Spice Girl Geri is seeing her relationship meltdown played out on a global scaleCredit: RexGeri, famed for that Union Jack dress, has spent the past few years steadfastly rebranding her carefully cultivated image.Out went the provocative ensembles, in came a plethora of all-white outfits, literally a symbol of purity and chastity.Again, how ironic this now looks in the face of her husband’s sexts.(Although, quite how he managed to woo Geri with such chat — at one point he waxes lyrical about Coco Pops, and let’s not go there with the “finger” text — is in itself baffling).In the past few years she’s become a children’s author, has done countless charitable acts and moved to the countryside, where she’s more likely to be seen in Hunter wellies than six-inch Christian Louboutins.In another unfortunate plot twist, I’m told Geri was “personally aware of” the appointment of the female colleague at the centre of this tawdry scandal.A Red Bull insider says: “Geri knows of this woman, and had no qualms about their working relationship.“This was the woman for whom her husband turned. Again, this is a bitter, bitter pill to swallow.” The reaction on social media has been mixed. Naturally “Christian Horny” gags are rife: “Has Christian been showing people his horn?” is another comment doing the rounds.While many sympathise with the Spice Girl, who brought absolutely none of this on herself, others are less forgiving.Underneath her last “Perfect” Instagram post, yesterday scores of so-called fans posted unkindly.“Where’s the girl power now? A woman has spoken, where’s the support,” queried one, a reference to Horner allegedly abusing his position — something his F1 team have cleared him of and he strenuously denies.Others, more alarmingly for Geri’s PR team, have brought up the manner in which she and Christian got together in the first place.They mixed socially before they began dating, first meeting at the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix.Christian left his long-term partner Beverley Allen just six months after the birth of their daughterCredit: Desmond O’Neill Features LtdThey officially got together, though, after the Formula One boss left his long-term partner Beverley Allen just six months after the birth of their daughter, Olivia. But the pair were spotted cavorting in a North London pub by a friend of mine long before they went public with their romance.“They were very flirty, joking to pub goers they were engaged,” said my friend at the time.When Beverley was approached about it for comment, she denied all knowledge — and the story went away.There is no suggestion of any cheating, but it’s clear they had developed a strong bond long before things got serious.Christian’s parents were reportedly devastated when he left Beverley to be with the chart-topping star — and shunned the couple’s 2015 nuptials at St Mary’s church in Woburn, Bedfordshire.On Instagram yesterday, one anonymous user posted: “Wondering if Geri feels empathy for Beverley now that [a similar] thing has occurred with her.Before it was Geri/Christian when Bev was pregnant/bed-ridden/giving birth and abandoned when most vulnerable.“Now Christian appears to have done the same thing to Geri and their slightly older son. Karma does have a way.”Ouch. Meanwhile, Geri has cut herself off from her one-time Spice Girl “rocks”.The band, minus Victoria Beckham, were due to be getting together soon to discuss tour dates for a comeback.Deeply loyalA source added: “Geri has gone into lockdown which now puts the wider Spice plans on hold.“The quartet always intended to mark their 30-year anniversary with some shows in 2024, as well as other commercial activity, but it seems unlikely this will happen now.”Spiritual Geri is a big fan of self-help books. (During my last interview with her she earnestly recommended one to me, adding: “Rejection is God’s rejection” when I told her I was newly single.There is no amount of self-help books that can get her out of this pickle.It is hard not to have some sympathy with the well-meaning mother of two (she also happily co-parents stepdaughter Olivia with Christian).From personal experience, Geri — a former UN Goodwill Ambassador — is kind, deeply loyal and hugely family-orientated.I last saw her during lockdown. The previous week she had secretly visited the Whittington Hospital in North London, handing out care packages to frontline nurses.She didn’t court the publicity because she didn’t need to.Unwittingly being thrust into the eye of this media s***storm, then, must be all the more galling for a kind, hard-working, incredibly generous woman intent on living a quieter lifeREAD MORE SUN STORIESAnd you wouldn’t wish this scenario on your worst enemy.For a woman of 51, who once said: “I’ve really learned how important it is to empower women”, only time will tell how empowering her next act will be.Christian and Geri Horner have been a happy family with children (left) Bluebell, (centre) Montague and (right) OliviaCredit: Getty Images – Getty More

    • 225 Shares99 Views

      in Motorsport

      Geri Halliwell knew about female staffer before sexting scandal & approved of her working with Christian, insider says

      by

      GERI Halliwell was left “heartbroken and humiliated” after hundreds of sexts sent by hubby Christian Horner to a female employee were leaked.The Spice Girl, 51, touched down in Bahrain on Thursday night just as the bombshell messages began to spread around the globe.Geri Halliwell knew of the female employee at the centre of her husband Christian Horner’s texting scandalCredit: ShutterstockHorner was snapped at a practice session in Bahrain with driver Max Verstappen making preparations ahead of qualifyingCredit: APThe Sun has learned that Geri knew of the female employee at the centre of the texting scandalCredit: AFPShe is planning to be by the Red Bull F1 chief’s side on the pre-race grid for today’s Grand Prix in a public show of solidarity. But sources said last night she has been left “distraught and devastated” over the scandal, which Horner, 50, had repeatedly played down.The devastating trove of texts sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets confirmed Horner did send inappropriate messages behind Geri’s back, despite being cleared in a Red Bull probe.A source close to the pop star, who was on a Bahrain-bound private jet when the messages emerged, told The Sun: “Geri is heartbroken and feels utterly humiliated. She trusted him when he tried to play down the scandal.“He always told her he’d done nothing wrong. This will really hurt Geri, who has put everything into their marriage.”READ MORE ON SEXTING SCANDALMeanwhile, The Sun has learned that Geri knew of the female employee at the centre of the texting scandal. A Red Bull insider said she even approved of the woman working in Horner’s team.Hauled in for crisis talksIt was also claimed yesterday that the employee was “unhappy” after the messages were leaked and believed the probe into his behaviour had been “one-sided”.A friend said: “We speak every day and she’s very unhappy – of course. In her way of thinking it’s all very one-sided and she has been crucified.”Horner was yesterday snapped at a practice session in Bahrain with driver Max Verstappen making preparations ahead of qualifying.Most read in MotorsportHe always told her he’d done nothing wrongSource close to GeriIt was reported that the Red Bull chief – who has won 13 world titles since heading the team as a 31-year-old in 2005 – had been hauled in for crisis talks with F1 bosses. The tension was palpable down in the paddock, with Red Bull team members avoiding mentioning the simmering scandal, other than the odd whisper.Horner was seen pacing from the hospitality area to the team’s garage, stopping only to check his phone and to sign autographs for waiting children.Christian Horner breaks silence on alleged leaksAn F1 source last night said that Red Bull workers fear there might be more leaked messages to come.The team boss refused to comment on the leaked WhatsApp sexts. Last night some of the grubby messages were reported, including a request for a “Santa PJ selfie”. He also regularly joked about Spanx, telling the woman she looks “attractive” in them.In another, Horner starts by asking: “Can I make a confession?” He then describes a trip on a private jet to Dubai where he claims that the woman got him “out of control”.Pesters woman for photosShe cuts him off by guessing that he had to nip to the bathroom.He confirms her suspicions and says he would have preferred it if she had been there with him. Horner also pesters the woman for photos. In another exchange, the pair have an innocent discussion about a photo for a travel document. Horner then writes: “You could send me a pic,” followed by a winky face emoji.At one point the female employee asked her boss how he would feel if Geri were to message someone in the way he was.I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegationsChristian HornerHorner also repeatedly asks the woman — who works with him at Red Bull’s Milton Keynes HQ – to delete their chat history.The woman apparently grew tired of her boss’s pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the Whats- App dossier. The leak appeared to be in line with the original accusation over alleged “sexually suggestive” messages sent by Horner.It was later claimed that the internal inquiry into the team boss was into “controlling and coercive” behaviour towards the woman.On Thursday, after the messages were leaked, defiant Horner said in a statement: “I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations. I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully co-operated with it every step of the way.“It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister and it has concluded, dismissing the complaint made.”There is no suggestion that pictures featuring sexual content are included in the leaked WhatApps.READ MORE SUN STORIESGeri, who married Horner in 2015, rocketed to fame in the 1990s with the Spice Girls, whose hits included Stop. She is expected to be with her husband today for the season’s opening race, alongside Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya, who owns 51 per cent of Red Bull.Red Bull Racing have declined to comment.The texts sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets confirmed Horner did send inappropriate messages behind Geri’s back, despite being cleared in a Red Bull probeCredit: PAGeri, pictured with Horner on the grid at the Monaco GP, has not been spotted at the circuit in BahrainCredit: GettyThe defiant F1 chief has joined colleagues for the opening race of the seasonCredit: APHow Christian Horner’s shock texts were leakedBy Ben Hunt

      IT was an anonymous email sent and designed for maximum impact.
      It landed in my inbox almost 24 hours to the minute since Christian Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing following Red Bull’s internal investigation.
      Other names included Liberty Media chief Greg Maffei, who owns the rights to F1. The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem and F1 CEO Stefano Dominacali.
      The F1 team bosses were also included for good measure. As was Max Verstappen’s father, Jos.
      It was from an anonymous sender, the title was simply the date – ‘Feb Twenty Nine’.
      Inside it was a Google Drive link containing 79 files claiming to be the evidence from the independent investigation.
      There is no way of knowing if they were real or fake yet irrespectively it sent another shockwave through the F1 paddock before this season had even started.
      Horner was sitting on the team’s pitwall during second practice in Bahrain when the email dropped.
      After the session, he walked out of the team’s garage and into the hospitality unit where he remained as the nuclear fallout began.
      He’d survived the outcome of the internal investigation into improper conduct following a complaint from a female colleague.
      One wonders whether he will survive this time after this very public humiliation – again, irrespective if they were indeed real or fake.
      Just hours earlier, McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, called on the sport’s governing body, the FIA, demanding transparency.
      “I just read the statement, which was pretty basic,” said Wolff. “My personal opinion is we can’t really look behind the curtain.
      “There is a lady in an organisation that has spoken to HR and said there was an issue and it was investigated and yesterday the sport has received the message that it’s all fine, we’ve looked at it.
      “I believe with the aspiration as a global sport, on such critical topics, it needs more transparency and I wonder what the sport’s position is?
      “We’re competitors, we’re a team and we can have our own personal opinions or not. But it’s more like a general reaction or action that we as a sport need to assess, what is right in that situation and what is wrong.
      “Are we talking with the right moral approach, with the values based on the speculation that is out there? As a sport, we cannot afford to leave things vague and opaque on critical topics like this, because this is going to catch us out.”
      Brown added: “It’s the responsibility ultimately of the organisers of Formula One, the owners of Formula One, to make sure that all the racing teams and the personnel and the drivers and everyone else involved in the sport are operating in a manner in which we all live by.
      “I don’t think it’s the teams’ roles and responsibilities. That’s up to FIA and Formula One to ultimately decide and ask what they feel gives them the level of transparency they need to ultimately come to their conclusion and we just have to count on them that they fulfil that obligation to all of us.”
      The emailed file will only increase that pressure in the form of scrutiny on Horner – who has always denied the accusations.
      It does also put Red Bull in a tricky position.
      Should the emailed file be legitimate and have made up elements from the initial report, which had been thoroughly examined and presented by the independent KC, then surely this is nothing new to them and their decision to stick with their team principal remains.
      To perform a u-turn on that simply now they have become public would possibly see criticism that they intended to keep their report private to save face.
      Whatever the outcome, it is a mess for the world champions.Reports of a wedge driven between Horner and Verstappen’s father have grown in recent weeks.
      So it was interesting that Jos Verstappen was in the paddock and wearing a team jacket and seemed unmoved to the chaos happening around him More