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      Meet Christian Horner’s boss and Red Bull owner worth nearly 27 times more than Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo combined

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      ALLEGED “leaked texts” have put Christian Horner’s position as Team Principal of Red Bull into doubt – but he does still have the support of the most powerful man at Red Bull.The British boss was cleared of wrongdoing by his team’s internal investigation on Wednesday, but less than 24 hours later was hit by a dossier of texts being leaked to journalists and F1 team principals.Chalerm Yoovidhya and wife Daranee, were pictured alongside Christian and Geri HornerCredit: GettyIt’s a clear indication that Red Bull’s most important man is standing by his team principalCredit: AFPThe investigation into Horner, relating to accusations of “inappropriate behaviour” began in February, and has seen his previously untouchable position at Red Bull put into doubt.Crucially for Horner, though, he has the support of majority Red Bull shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, 73.The Thai businessman is estimated by Forbes to have a net worth of £26.8billion.That’s almost 27 times the net worth of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, thought to be worth nearly £1bn between them.READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNERYoovidhya inherited much of his wealth when his father, Chaleo died in 2012 – although he was involved in running the Red Bull conglomerate before that.He owns 51 per cent of the Red Bull company and has the power of veto on shareholder decisions, making him a very important ally for Horner to have.Although not a great deal is known about the Thai businessman’s personal life, he lives in Bangkok and has three children – all potential heirs in the Red Bull dynasty.According to the Daily Mail, he is thought to be incredibly loyal to Horner, and has put down any attempts from within the team to get rid of him.Most read in MotorsportThe businessman has been pictured with both Christian and Geri Horner several times and is thought to have a good personal relationship with the couple.A power vacuum has been present at Red Bull since the death of Dietrich Mateschtiz who passed away in 2022.Motor racing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messagesMateschitz founded Red Bull alongside Chaleo Yoovidhya in 1984 in a joint Austrian and Thai venture.Dietrich’s death saw his son Mark, 31, inherit his 49 per cent of shares and while Dietrich was an avid supporter of Horner, Mark is not thought to be.He is allegedly joined in the power struggle against Horner by Oliver Mintzlaff, who oversees Red Bull’s other sporting operations as well as F1, Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen’s father Jos, according to The Mail.They claim that Mark, along with the Austrian faction of Red Bull wanted Horner to be dispatched “quickly” while the investigation was still ongoing.But the support of Chalern Yoovidhya and the Thai branch of Red Bull has seen Horner remain as Red Bull’s team principal. More

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      Max Verstappen easily wins Bahrain Grand Prix as Red Bull 1-2 gives under-fire Christian Horner something to smile about

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN started his F1 title defence with a crushing victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix.The 26-year-old crossed the line with a whopping 22 seconds lead over his team-mate Sergio Perez.The new season got underway in BahrainCredit: RexMax Verstappen carried his dominance into the new seasonCredit: GettyThe win gave Chistian Horner something to smile aboutCredit: APHe was congratulated by his Red Bull boss Christian Horner, who beamed for the first time in a while after being dogged by controversy.The build up to this race had been dominated by one topic – the internal investigation into Horner surrounding claims of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.But he was given the green light to continue in his role after the grievance was dismissed by an independent report only to be plunged into a meltdown when an anonymous email claimed to have leaked contents of WhatsApp exchanges.Horner, who had denied the allegations, would only comment to say that he would not respond to “anonymous speculation”.READ MORE IN F1There had also been more tension with rumours of a simmering feud with Verstappen’s father Jos, potentially driving a wedge between his star driver and Horner.But there was a clear show of support for Horner, who had arrived at the track in Bahrain early.He had remained in his office in the Red Bull hospitality unit until going to the paddock gates to greet his wife Geri Halliwell around 4:15pm.She was wearing an elegant cream dress and they strode through the paddock holding hands as the snappers got their shots before sharing a kiss.Most read in MotorsportThis was a message that shouted loud and clear that their relationship had not been damaged by the anonymous leak.They chatted with Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, the Dutch billionaire businesswoman who owns 25 per cent of the second-largest brewer in the world bearing her surname, making her the richest person in the Netherlands.Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on Heineken are just one of the many team partners but perhaps the most significant level of business support came from Chalerm Yoovidhya, the Thai co-owner of Red Bull.He has been in Horner’s corner for a number of years and owns the controlling 51 per cent of the energy drink firm founded by his father.The remaining 49 per cent once owned by Austrian tycoon Dietrich Mateschitz now belongs to his son, Mark.Yoovidhya and his wife had a photo in front of Verstappen’s car on the grid and stood either side of Horner.Before the race, there was still some trepidation that a second salvo of WhatsApp files would drop in yet another anonymous email.The previous day, there had been rumours of the same but they never materialised.Once the grid cleared and we finally got the 2024 season underway it quickly became apparent that Verstappen remained in a class of his own.He thundered away from the lights at a rate that was nearly a second a lap quicker than his rivals.By the 10th lap, he’d stretched his advantage to eight seconds and by the time he made his pitstop on lap 18 it was a terrifying lead of 30.4 seconds.He stopped for tyres and started making his lead back up again. It was impressive and demoralising in equal measure.Last year, Verstappen had been unstoppable, winning 19 of 22 races.There had been some hope based on pre-season testing that Ferrari and even Mercedes, would offer him more of a fight.But on this evidence, it looks all too easy as he coasted to victory ahead of his Perez in second place.As the TV camera cut to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, his gloomy face told a familiar story now for the Silver Arrows.George Russell, who started in third place, finished in fifth. Lewis Hamilton meanwhile was seventh with McLaren’s British driver Lando Norris ahead of him.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe rest of the grid have their work cut out if they are to stop the Dutchman from making it four titles on the spin.It was a one-two finish for Red Bull and Verstappen, who had started on pole, also set the fastest lap to earn himself a bonus point.Horner and wife Geri shared a kissCredit: PA More

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      ‘Emotional’ Geri Halliwell on ‘denial mission’ as she ‘puts on PR performance’ alongside ‘awkward’ Christian Horner

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      GERI Halliwell is on a “denial mission” and today put on a PR performance, a body language expert claims.The Spice Girl, 51, was seen for the first time this afternoon – walking hand-in-hand with husband Christian Horner at the Bahrain Grand Pix.Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner put on a ‘PR performance’ today, a body language expert claimsCredit: GettyExpert Judi James says the couple were trying to show a ‘bond’Credit: PAThe Spice Girl was said to be forcing a ‘carefree smile’Credit: GettyWhile Christian appeared ‘awkward’, an expert saysCredit: APThe expert said the couple appeared to be on a ‘denial mission’Credit: GettyHer presence came as a surprise after ‘sexts’ allegedly sent by Horner were leaked while she was jetting to the Middle East to stand by his side. But with Horner’s hand on her back, Geri beamed as she greeted the mob of photographers awaiting her arrival. She could be seen smiling up at her husband, before apparently candidly chatting to him at the trackside. But the couple’s apparent solidarity was not sincere, a body language expert claims. Read more on motorsportJudi James said Horner appeared “awkward”, while Geri was wearing a smile that looked forced – in an attempt to seem carefree. Yesterday afternoon the content of WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by the Red Bull Racing boss were leaked. In one, Horner allegedly asked a woman for a “Santa PJ selfie” and regularly joked about Spanx – telling the woman she looks “attractive” in them.The body language expert said Geri and Horner today were trying to send “a message of denial and bonded resilience”. Most read in MotorsportShe said the ex-Spice Girl was wearing a smile as though she was “posing for a cataloge shoot”. Judi told The Sun: “That in turn suggests she’s putting in some emotional effort to try to look carefree and natural.Motor racing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messages”Her smile looks performed and that outward flick of her right hand and lower arm hint at inner tension causing rigidity.” The expert said their body language, with their hands pulled closer to Geri’s body, suggested this was a PR performance of “loyalty and togetherness”. “The way she grasps Christian’s hand suggests she’s being the decisive one here,” Judi added. “It looks as though she has taken over control here and decided to show a message of togetherness to the world.” It comes asShe said this made it appear as though Geri was on a “denial mission”. Judi added that Horner looked “awkward” with one hand in his pocket, suggesting a “desire to hide”. She continued: “He doesn’t meet Geri’s eye contact when she throws a pinging beam at him as though trying to prompt him to return a loving smile.” The Spice Girl went for her signature white outfit, which she is known for wearing at F1 races.It comes after Geri was said to have “felt like a fool” for trusting her “prince charming” husband after he played down sexting claims.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.Geri is heartbroken and feels utterly humiliated.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. “She worked hard for all of this, she jumped through hoops to get him, so will she dump him?”READ MORE SUN STORIESEarlier today, a smiling Horner appeared to have shrugged off his sext scandal as he arrived alone at the Bahrain Grand Prix.The racing chief previously refused to comment on the leaked WhatsApp sexts, which were sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets on Thursday.Geri was seen for the first time since messages allegedly sent by her husband were leakedCredit: PAThe couple walked hand-in-hand in front of the camerasCredit: PA More

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      F1 Bahrain Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Verstappen LEADS from pole amid chief Horner’s sext scandal – latest updates

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      THE Formula 1 season is kicking off with the Bahrain Grand Prix today.Defending champion Max Verstappen is starting from pole after topping qualifying for an opener which has been marred by Red Bull chief Christian Horner’s alleged sext scandal which has rocked the sport.The team principal has again denied allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague after being cleared following an internal investigation on Wednesday before messages claiming to be from him were leaked.
      Start time: 3pm GMT
      TV channel/ live stream: Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event
      Lap 17/57 – Verstappen leads, Perez second
      Everyone has pitted now apart from Verstappen who now leads the race by 31.3 seconds.
      Russell is in third, Leclerc in fourth place just ahead of his teammate in fifth.
      Norris sits in sixth ahead of Piastri in seventh.
      Copy linkCopiedLap 15/57 – Verstappen leads, Alonso second
      Sergio Perez is on fire today.
      Another great move as he takes George Russell to move into sixth place.
      The Red Bull driver has Albon in his sights now.
      Credit: Getty
      Copy linkCopiedLap 13/57 – Verstappen leads, Sainz second
      As ever, pit stops change the complexion of the race.
      Verstappen now has a 11.9 second lead over Sainz in second.
      Alonso is now in third, with Tsunoda in fourth.
      Copy linkCopiedLap 11/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell second
      Verstappen now has a 7.2 second lead in the race.
      Alonso was struggling to hold off the Mercedes of Hamilton and drops to ninth place.
      It looks like Logan Sargeant may be our first retirement of the race.
      He surprises all as he returns to the track which will prevent the need for any safety cards.
      The two Ferraris almost have a coming together as Sainz moves up into fourth spot.
      Copy linkCopiedLap 9/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell second
      This is not a good start to the race for Charles Leclerc.
      Sergio Perez is the next driver to take the Ferrari.
      Leclerc is now in fourth place with Perez in third.
      The Ferrari driver has locked-up three times already in the race, on this occasion giving the Red Bull the chance to capitalise.
      Copy linkCopiedLap 7/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell second
      It is business as usual for the Red Bull of Max Verstappen.
      He has opened up a 4.6 second lead over the Mercedes of Russell.
      Norris is now in sixth, closely followed by teammate Piastri.
      Copy linkCopiedLap 5/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell second
      Russell is 2.1 seconds behind Verstappen in first place.
      His main concern at the moment is holding of the Ferrari of Leclerc.
      The stewards had a look at that earlier incident between Stroll and Hulkenberg and have cleared it.
      Credit: Getty
      Copy linkCopiedLap 3/57 – Verstappen leads, Russell second
      Hulkenberg heads into the pits and had a chancge of tyres.
      All 20 drivers started this race on soft tyres today.
      The front of the grid looks, as we started, with the exception of Hulkenberg who is at the back of the field now.
      That is all change as the Mercedes of Russell makes a move to take the Ferrari at the corner.
      Copy linkCopiedLap 1/57 – Verstappen leads, Leclerc second
      Max Verstappen makes a great start to the Grand Prix.
      Charles Leclerc had to back off a bit at the first turn.
      Lance Stroll and Nico Hulkenberg had some contact at the first corner and the latter seems to have some front wing damage.
      Copy linkCopiedLights out in Bahrain Grand Prix
      Copy linkCopiedFormation lap begins
      Copy linkCopiedReminder of F1 grid for race
      Here is how the drivers will line-up this afternoon in Bahrain.
      Credit: @F1
      Copy linkCopiedBahrain Grand Prix race odds
      As you would imagine, Max Verstappen remains the heavy favourite for every race he enters.
      Max Verstappen – 2/13
      Charles Leclerc – 9/1
      Sergio Perez, George Russell – 20/1
      Carlos Sainz – 25/1
      Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton – 40/1
      Lando Norris – 50/1
      Oscar Piastri – 66/1
      All race odds brought to you by Grosvenor Sport.
      Copy linkCopiedChanges for 2024 race season
      DRS is s huge part of Formula One nowadays but there will be a change for this season.
      Drivers will first be able to access it – provided they are within one second of the car in front at the respective detection point – on the second lap of the race instead of the third as before. 
      What sort of impact that will have, only time will tell.
      Copy linkCopiedContracts up for grabs this year
      As we head into the new race season, we have quite a strange situation when it comes to the drivers.
      More than half of this year’s grid, 13 drivers, have not yet confirmed contracts for next season.
      It will make for an intriguing campaign, with some big announcements expected as drivers edge towards the end of their existing contracts.
      Copy linkCopiedExciting F1 season lies ahead
      Not that anticipation for the new campaign needs much more hype but we will also see the return of the Chinese Grand Prix this year.
      It will be the first time since 2019 that the Shanghai International Circuit will feature in the race season.
      Prior to the concerns due to the pandemic, it had been a regular feature in the calendar for fifteen consecutive years from 2004-2019.
      Copy linkCopiedSight of things to come
      As the drivers ponder tactics prior to the race, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc share some thoughts.
      With this being Hamilton’s last season with Mercedes, the pair will soon be teammates at Ferrari.
      Mercedes will hope that he can go out on a high for them this campaign, which would be the perfect swansong for their partnership.
      Credit: AFP
      Copy linkCopiedSo close to perfect start in qualifying
      Ferrari almost made the perfect start to the season as Charles Leclerc seemed tohave pipped Max Verstappen to pole position.
      However, opting to go onto soft tyres for Q3 cost them as the defending world champion put in a performance to seal the front place on the grid.
      Ferrari’s drivers sit in second and fourth on the grid and will be looking to make a positive start to the season.

      Copy linkCopiedMercedes hoping to challenge this season
      George Russell has spoke about his team’s plans for the season.
      “Everyone at the factory have done an amazing job to give Lewis and I a car we feel much happier with and a base we can build upon.
      “Obviously Max is right out there in front, we’ve still got some catching up to do but when we look at our qualifying performance over the last two years and our race pace, starting P3 in Bahrain is a great place.”
      Copy linkCopiedStars head to F1 opener in Bahrain
      Yuki Tsunoda meets Neymar in the pits as preparation continues.
      There is no other sport like F1 to attract the world’s biggest star to the track.
      The anticipation is building as we head towards lights out in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
      Credit: Getty
      Copy linkCopiedPutting on a brave front
      Amid all the media attention, Geri Halliwell is treating everything as ‘business as usual’ in Bahrain.
      A regular attender at the races, the former Spice Girl is showing support for her man this weekend.
      Red Bull will be hoping for another dominant season this term, expecting more from Sergio Perez in support of Max Verstappen.
      Credit: AP
      Copy linkCopiedAlpine struggling with change in qualifying
      After finishing sixth in the constructors’ championship last season, Alpine made changes to their car to try and bridge the gap.
      Sadly, it seems these changes have had the adverse effect in qualifying.
      Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly up line up 19th and 20th respectively for the season-opener.
      Copy linkCopiedHow the drivers line-up in season opener
      Here is today’s grid positions for the Bahrain Grand Prix:
      Credit: @F1
      Copy linkCopiedMax focussed on driving not scandal
      The reigning world champion has spoken about the revelations about Christian Horner have affected the team:
      From my side, and I think what I can see also from the mechanics and the engineers, we are fully focused on the car and the performance here during the weekend. And that’s how it should be, I think, and that’s what we continue to do, because it’s not our business. We’re not particularly involved in that. And we are here, we are paid to do our job, and that’s what we are doing and that’s also what we love doing. So that’s what we focus on.Max VerstappenRed Bull
      Copy linkCopiedSeason start could not come sooner
      One thing is for sure that Red Bull will be glad to see the start of the season.
      With the spotlight directly on the constructor with the bombshells about Christian Horner, they will be hoping that Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez can divert attentions this afternoon.
      While Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing, the text messages have been leaked into the public arena with his partner Geri Halliwell said to be ‘devastated’ by the nature of the content.

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      ‘Distracted’ – Max Verstappen breaks silence on Christian Horner after Red Bull boss’ sexts were leaked

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      MAX VERSTAPPEN backed his beleaguered Red Bull boss Christian Horner as the sexting storm rumbled on.But the reigning world champion admits Horner was distracted as he raced to pole for today’s Bahrain Grand Prix opener.Max Verstappen admitted Christian Horner is ‘distracted’Credit: GettyThe Red Bull boss – married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell – is at the centre of a sext scandalCredit: GettyVerstappen, 26, said: “He is fully committed to the team, he’s also here for the performance. Of course, probably a little bit distracted.“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’m also dealing with. I speak to Christian a lot, and also throughout the weekend here.“But like I said before, we just focus on the performance side of things, and that is how we all work together.”READ MORE ON HORNERHorner, 50, was cleared in an internal investigation of any wrongdoing towards a female staffer on Wednesday.But he is battling for his future after key F1 personnel were sent an anonymous email claiming to contain evidence relating to Red Bull’s internal investigation.The message contained images of WhatsApp exchanges in 79 Google Drive files which Horner refused to comment on. The bombshell threatened to disrupt their preparations for the 2024 season’s F1 curtain-raiser.Most read in MotorsportHowever, Verstappen responded by taking the 33rd pole of his career ahead of Charles Leclerc and George Russell.Dutchman Verstappen, 26, added: “From my side and what I can see also from the mechanics and the engineers, we are fully focused on the car and the performance here during the weekend.Motor racing world in ‘disbelief’ at Christian Horner alleged leaked messages“That is how it should be and what we continue to do, because it’s not our business. We’re not particularly involved in that.“And we are here, we are paid to do our job, and that’s what we are doing and that’s also what we love doing. So that’s what we focus on.”Horner arrived at the Bahrain International Circuit alone on Saturday morning to make the final preparations for the Bahrain GP. He stopped briefly to check his phone and sign autographs for children as he paced around the paddock. His wife Geri Halliwell later broke her cover to stand by Horner. Yesterday, the Red Bull chief sat down for showdown talks with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem amid the sext scandal.Ben Sulayem admitted the saga is having a negative impact which is overshadowing the sport.He said: “It’s damaging the sport. This is damaging on a human level.”It comes asHalliwell was left “heartbroken and humiliated” after hundreds of intimate 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 but lay low before her appearance at the track ahead of the race.Geri reportedly refused to see her husband after the leak but was talked into it by his family.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 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.Horner arrived at the Bahrain International Circuit on his own on Saturday morningCredit: PAGeri is said to be ‘heartbroken and humiliated’ by the leaks but still turned up tracksideCredit: PAThe Spice Girl was flying to Bahrain when the intimate messages were revealedCredit: Getty More

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

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      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

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

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      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

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

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      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