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    Five shock twists in Christian Horner ‘sext’ scandal from message leak, to Geri Halliwell’s fury & Red Bull ‘civil war’

    CHRISITAN Horner’s relief after being cleared of wrongdoing was short-lived when private messages between him and a colleague were then leaked.The embattled Red Bull Racing chief, 50, has endured almost a month of twists and turns as he looks to save his reputation.Christian Horner stands in his team garage during the third practice session on FridayCredit: APHorner and wife Geri at the Ferrari Sky Premiere at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in DecemberCredit: GettyHorner became the focus of an internal investigation early in February after a female colleague accused him of “coercive” and “inappropriate” behaviour.He was grilled for eight hours over claims before an independent barrister was employed to review the evidence.On Wednesday, Red Bull revealed Horner’s £8 million-a-year job was safe as he had been cleared of misconduct.The team principal, who has led the Austrian team since its formation in 2005, has always vehemently denied allegations made against him.More on Christian HornerBut less than 24 hours later hundreds of secret messages were leaked to the press – the latest in a series of twists in the ongoing saga threatening to overshadow the F1 season.Red Bull wrongfooted at firstThe probe got off to a rocky start straight away when the F1 team and its parent company contradicted each other.Red Bull Racing’s team office in Milton Keynes repeatedly denied the allegation of a complaint against Horner on February 4, The Times reported.But just a day later, Red Bull’s Global Headquarters in Austria put out a statement confirming an investigation.Most read in MotorsportIt is understood the statement was put out without officials at the F1 team being notified first.Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on Sexts surface in Dutch mediaAfter news broke of the probe, an independent lawyer flew to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.Horner was initially only under investigation over alleged controlling behaviour at work towards a female worker.But fresh claims then emerged alleging Horner also sent her “sexually suggestive” texts.News outlet De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent improper messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.Messages were claimed to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external ­barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.Horner pictured with wife Geri Halliwell last yearCredit: GettyGeri standing by him Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell, who he married in 2015, was said to be “in floods of tears” when news of the scandal emerged.The Spice Girls star privately insisted he did nothing wrong, however.The Sun reported how Geri was being supported by her Spice Girl bandmates.A source said: “Geri has been left ­broken by the ordeal, but is grateful for the kindness being shown to her by friends.”More than a week after the probe was launched, she was pictured with Horner for a day at the races at Badbury Rings, Dorset.But later reports said the star was “mortified and angry” over the probe.Insiders say Geri had even begged Horner to “make it go away”, reports the Mail.On Wednesday, Geri was said to be “relieved and elated” when the case against her Red Bull Racing boss husband Horner was thrown out.But after a trove of flirty texts was leaked, their marriage is now said to be “in question”.Friends of Geri fear the latest bombshell will “destroy” the mum-of-two, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner.One pal told the outlet: “It has all come crashing down.”The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her.”All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.”Geri landed in Bahrain on Thursday – having taken off from the UK before the messages were shared.Horner spoke with Verstappen at the Bahrain International CircuitCredit: APHorner exoneratedHorner found out on Wednesday he will remain at the Red Bull Racing team’s helm after an internal three-week investigation dismissed the grievance.It came after weeks of speculation over his future running the all-conquering team of F1 world champion Max Verstappen.A Red Bull Austria spokesman said: “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.”The team’s parent company confirmed the complainant “has a right of appeal”.The spokesman added: “Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. “The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned.”Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”Horner found out his fate just minutes after landing in Bahrain ahead of the opening Grand Prix of the F1 season.Throughout the three-week probe, the message from within the team has been that it is “business as usual”.Horner was present at the pre-season testing in Bahrain a week prior and Red Bull’s 2024 car launch days prior.After he was cleared, Horner said he was “pleased” the investigation had been completed.Sexts leak to journalists/FIAJust when Horner thought he was in the clear and could fully focus on the Bahrain Grand Prix, a bombshell trove of hundreds of flirty WhatsApp sexts was sent to F1 teams and media outlets. The move was also calculated to cause maximum damage to Horner’s career – just 24 hours before the start of the new Grand Prix season in Bahrain.Horner immediately spoke out, saying: “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 cooperated 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.”Leaked private texts appeared to suggest Red Bull Racing boss Horner, 50, pestered a female employee for pictures and engaged in secret flirty chats behind his wife’s back.Other messages discuss a solo sex act in an aircraft toilet.While there don’t appear to be any explicit images in the messages, some of the texts are sexually suggestive in nature.The woman – who works with Horner at the all-conquering grand prix team’s Milton Keynes HQ – apparently tired of her boss’s pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the WhatsApp dossier.She asks him to stop – and even asks how the dad would feel if Geri was behaving in the same way with one of her staff.Texts also suggest Horner became apologetic as he realised he had caused offence – and responded by asking the woman to delete their entire WhatsApp history.The mega-leak appeared to be in line with the original accusation faced over alleged “sexually suggestive “ messages sent by Horner.READ MORE SUN STORIESTeam Principal Horner arrived in Bahrain on Thursday and had proudly announced his team – led by world champ Max Verstappen – had “never been stronger” just hours before.A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
    1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
    1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
    1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
    1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
    1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
    2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
    2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
    2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
    2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
    2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
    2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
    2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
    2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
    2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row More

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    Christian Horner’s sext leak happened while wife Geri was in mid-air on her way to be by husband’s side in Bahrain

    GERI Halliwell was mid-air en route to Bahrain when hundreds of flirty messages husband Christian Horner sent to a female employee were leaked, it is understood.The Spice Girls star was flying to be by her Red Bull Racing chief husband’s side after she was left “relieved and elated” he had been cleared of wrongdoing.Geri, pictured at a Grand Prix in 2021, has flown to BahrainCredit: GettyEmbattled F1 chief Horner pictured todayCredit: PAThe couple pictured at the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco last yearCredit: GettyBut The Sun understands Geri, 51, had already taken off from the UK when hundreds of private WhatsApp messages were sent to F1 teams and media outlets.Friends of the couple now claim their marriage is “in question” as Geri reels from the latest bombshell.Defiant Horner was today seen trackside in Bahrain for a test run ahead of tomorrow’s F1 season opener before being pulled for a meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.Geri has not yet been seen in the paddock, however.More on Christian HornerThe singer, who married Horner in 2015, was said to be “in floods of tears” when news of the investigation first emerged almost a month ago.Geri privately insisted he did nothing wrong, however.The Sun reported how Geri was being supported by her Spice Girl bandmates.More than a week after the probe was launched, she was pictured with Horner for a day at the races at Badbury Rings, Dorset.Most read in MotorsportBut later reports said the star was “mortified and angry” over the probe.Sources close to the singer said she was “relieved and elated” when the case against her Horner was thrown out on Wednesday.Christian & Geri Horner MansionsBut after a trove of flirty texts was leaked, their marriage is now said to be “in question”.Friends of Geri fear the latest bombshell will “destroy” the mum-of-two, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner.One pal told the Mail: “It has all come crashing down.”The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her.”All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.”It comes as…A trove of flirty private messages exchanged between Horner and a female colleague were sent to F1 teams and media outlets on Thursday as Geri flew from the UK to Bahrain.Messages appeared to suggest Horner pestered the woman for pictures behind his wife’s back.While there don’t appear to be any explicit images in the messages, some of the texts are sexually suggestive in nature.The move was also calculated to cause maximum damage to Red Bull Racing boss Horner’s career – just 24 hours before the start of the new Grand Prix season in Bahrain.After the messages were leaked yesterday, Horner again denied accusations made against him.He said: “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 cooperated 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.”The woman – who works with Horner at the all-conquering grand prix team’s Milton Keynes HQ – apparently tired of her boss’s pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the WhatsApp dossier.She asks him to stop – and even asks how the dad would feel if Geri was behaving in the same way with one of her staff.Texts also suggest Horner became apologetic as he realised he had caused offence – and responded by asking the woman to delete their entire WhatsApp history.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe mega-leak appeared to be in line with the original accusation faced over alleged “sexually suggestive “ messages sent by Horner.There is no suggestion that any pictures featuring sexual content are included in the WhatApps leaked so far.A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
    1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
    1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
    1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
    1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
    1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
    2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
    2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
    2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
    2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
    2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
    2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
    2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
    2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
    2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row More

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    How would you feel if Geri did this?, asked Christian Horner’s female colleague as he pestered her with sexts

    THE female staffer Christian Horner sent intimate messages to asked the F1 chief how he would feel if his wife did the same.Leaked private texts appeared to suggest Red Bull Racing boss Horner, 50, pestered the woman for pictures and engaged in secret flirty chats behind his wife’s back.Christian Horner pictured with wife Geri HalliwellCredit: Getty Images – GettyThe couple married in 2015 in Woburn, BedfordshireCredit: Doug Seeburg – The SunHorner pictured at training in Bahrain todayCredit: PAHorner was yesterday left reeling when a vast trove of private texts were revealed a day after he had been cleared of wrongdoing.Hundreds of flirty WhatsApp sexts were sent to F1 teams and media outlets.The woman – who works with Horner at the all-conquering grand prix team’s Milton Keynes HQ – apparently tired of his pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the WhatsApp dossier.She asked him to refrain – and even asked how the married dad would feel if Geri was behaving in the same way with one of her staff.More on Christian HornerSpice Girls star Geri, 51, has now been left humiliated after the texts were leaked on Thursday.Pals of the couple claim their marriage is now “in question” for the first time.Insiders said the Ginger Spice star was “relieved and elated” when the case against Horner was thrown out on Wednesday.But after three weeks of torment, as Horner faced an internal investigation, she has now been left “extremely humiliated”.Most read in MotorsportFriends of Geri fear the latest bombshell will “destroy” the mum-of-two, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner. One pal told the Mail: “It has all come crashing down. Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on “The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her.”While there don’t appear to be any explicit images in the messages, some of the texts are sexually suggestive in nature.The move was also calculated to cause maximum damage to Red Bull Racing boss Horner’s career – just 24 hours before the start of the new Grand Prix season in Bahrain.Horner said: “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 cooperated 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.”Messages appeared to suggest Horner – who was today pictured at training in Bahrain – pestered the woman for pictures and engaged in secret flirty chat behind his wife’s back.Other messages discuss a solo sex act in an aircraft toilet.Texts also suggest Horner became apologetic as he realised he had caused offence – and responded by asking the woman to delete their entire WhatsApp history.How Christian Horner’s shock text 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.

    The mega-leak appeared to be in line with the original accusation faced over alleged “sexually suggestive “ messages sent by Horner.It was later claimed that the barrister-led inquiry into the team boss was into “controlling and coercive” behaviour towards the woman.There is no suggestion that any pictures featuring sexual content are included in the WhatApps leaked so far.Team Principal Horner arrived in Bahrain on Thursday and had proudly announced his team – led by world champ Max Verstappen – had “never been stronger” yesterday morning.But Red Bull Racing and the team’s Austrian parent company were paralysed over by the fallout from the scandal and did not answer requests for comment.Geri – who has a six-year-old son Monty with Horner, who has two other children by a previous marriage – was back home in the UK as the texts were released.The couple were understood to have been locked in long-distance talks as aides attempted to manage the crisis.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt remained unclear whether Geri had been shown any of the messages prior to their distribution.But all traces of elation in the Horner camp following his exoneration just a day earlier appeared to have vanished as sources close to him went to ground.Horner speaking on the phone in Bahrain yesterdayCredit: ReutersHorner and Geri the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco last MayCredit: GettyHorner and Max Verstappen embraced during the test practice yesterdayCredit: PAA look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.

    1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
    1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
    1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
    1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
    1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
    2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
    2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
    2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
    2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
    2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
    2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
    2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
    2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
    2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row More

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    Geri Halliwell & Christian Horner’s marriage ‘in question’ as Spice Girl begged F1 boss to ‘make sext scandal go away’

    GERI Halliwell’s marriage to Christian Horner is said to be “in question” after private texts sent by her husband to a female employee were leaked.The Spice Girls star, 51, has been left humiliated after a vast trove of intimate texts between the F1 chief and a female colleague were revealed just a day after he was cleared of wrongdoing.Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner leave St Marys Church in Woburn on their wedding day in 2015Credit: Splash NewsThe couple pictured at the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo di Monza in 2014Credit: GettyHorner pictured at training in Bahrain todayCredit: PASources close to Geri say she was “relieved and elated” when the case against her Red Bull Racing boss husband Horner was thrown out on Wednesday.Ginger Spice Geri endured three weeks of torment in which she was said to have stood by her man after being left in “floods of tears” when the scandal first broke.Insiders say Geri had even begged Horner to “make it go away”, reports the Mail.Now the singer has again been left “extremely humiliated” just a day after she thought Horner, who she wed in 2015, was in the clear.More on Christian HornerPals of the couple say their marriage is “now in question for the first time” after the flirty text exchange between Horner and a female staffer was shared.Friends of Geri fear the latest bombshell will “destroy” the mum-of-two, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner. One pal told the Mail: “It has all come crashing down. “The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her. Most read in Motorsport”All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.”The couple were understood to have been locked in long-distance talks as aides attempted to manage the crisis.Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on It remained unclear whether Geri had been shown any of the messages prior to their distribution.Team Principal Horner was in Bahrain when the messages leaked on Thursday – and he was pictured at training today.He jetted to the Gulf kingdom on Wednesday before he was cleared of wrongdoing after being accused of inappropriate behavior and sending improper messages.Geri meanwhile was back home in the UK, but was understood to be due to fly out before the weekend.Hundreds of WhatsApp messages were sent to F1 teams and media outlets yesterday.While there don’t appear to be any explicit images in the messages, some of the texts are sexually suggestive in nature.Messages appeared to suggest Horner pestered the woman for pictures while others discussed a solo sex act in an aircraft toilet.The woman – who works with Horner at the all-conquering grand prix team’s Milton Keynes HQ – apparently tired of her boss’s pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the WhatsApp dossier.How Christian Horner’s shock text 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.

    She asks him to stop – and even asks how the dad would feel if Geri was behaving in the same way with one of her staff.Texts also suggest Horner became apologetic as he realised he had caused offence – and responded by asking the woman to delete their entire WhatsApp history.The mega-leak appeared to be in line with the original accusation faced over alleged “sexually suggestive “ messages sent by Horner.It was later claimed that the barrister-led inquiry into the team boss was into “controlling and coercive” behaviour towards the woman.There is no suggestion that any pictures featuring sexual content are included in the WhatApps messages leaked so far.The leak was also calculated to cause maximum damage to Red Bull Racing boss Horner’s career – just 24 hours before the start of the new Grand Prix season in Bahrain.Horner, who married the pop star in 2015, has always vehemently denied the claims and vowed to fight to clear his name.He said: “I won’t comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated 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.”Horner pictured in Bahrain yesterdayCredit: AlamyGeri, pictured with Horner in 2023, has been left humiliated by the scandalCredit: AFPThe pair pictured at the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco last yearCredit: GettyHorner, right, speaking with chief technical officer Adrian Newey yesterdayCredit: Alamy More

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    Distraught Geri received shock Christian Horner sext bomb news while MID-AIR as she flew into Bahrain for tense reunion

    GERI Halliwell was mid-air en route to Bahrain when hundreds of flirty messages husband Christian Horner sent to a female employee were leaked, it is understood.The Spice Girls star, 51, touched down in the Gulf kingdom amid reports her marriage to the Red Bull Racing chief is now “in question”.Christian Horner looked at a mobile phone as he stood in his team garage at today’s practice in BahrainCredit: APHorner spoke with Verstappen at the Bahrain International CircuitCredit: APThe defiant F1 chief joined colleagues for the test runCredit: APHe smiled as he carried on his work as usualCredit: SplashHorner’s wife Geri pictured at the Bahrain circuit last MarchCredit: AFPGeri arrived in Bahrain from the UK on Thursday – having taken off before the bombshell messages were shared, The Sun understands.But defiant Horner today looked unfazed this afternoon as he stood trackside in Bahrain for a test run ahead of tomorrow’s F1 season opener.The dad, 50, was pictured with headphones around his neck and chatting to Max Verstappen at the Bahrain International Circuit this afternoon.But he is understood to have left before the end of the practice for a meeting with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Sky F1 correspondent Ted Kravitz reported.More on Christian HornerGeri has not yet been seen in the paddock, however.Earlier today, pictures showed F1 chief Horner chatting to colleagues as he sat at a table with them.Geri has been left humiliated after a vast trove of intimate texts between her husband and a female colleague were revealed just a day after he was cleared of wrongdoing.Sources close to Geri say she was “relieved and elated” when the case against her Horner was thrown out on Wednesday.Most read in MotorsportGinger Spice Geri endured three weeks of torment in which she was said to have stood by her man after being left in “floods of tears” when the scandal first broke.Now the singer has again been left “extremely humiliated” less than 24 hours after she thought Horner, who she wed in 2015, was in the clear.Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on Friends of Geri fear the latest bombshell will “destroy” the mum-of-two, who shares seven-year-old son Monty with Horner.One pal told the Mail: “It has all come crashing down.”The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again. This will destroy her.”All along Christian promised there was nothing in it.”Horner was also left reeling after hundreds of WhatsApp messages were sent to F1 teams and media outlets.Messages appeared to suggest Horner pestered the woman for pictures behind his wife’s back.It comes as…While there don’t appear to be any explicit images in the messages, some of the texts are sexually suggestive in nature.The move was also calculated to cause maximum damage to Red Bull Racing boss Horner’s career – just 24 hours before the start of the new Grand Prix season in Bahrain.After the messages were leaked yesterday, Horner again denied accusations made against him.He said: “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 cooperated 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.”How Christian Horner’s shock text 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.

    Messages appear to indicate he engaged in a secret flirty chat with a female staffer while other texts discuss a solo sex act in an aircraft toilet.The woman – who works with Horner at the all-conquering grand prix team’s Milton Keynes HQ – apparently tired of her boss’s pleas for pictures and sexy chat, according to the WhatsApp dossier.She asks him to stop – and even asks how the dad would feel if Geri was behaving in the same way with one of her staff.Texts also suggest Horner became apologetic as he realised he had caused offence – and responded by asking the woman to delete their entire WhatsApp history.The mega-leak appeared to be in line with the original accusation faced over alleged “sexually suggestive “ messages sent by Horner.It was later claimed that the barrister-led inquiry into the team boss was into “controlling and coercive” behaviour towards the woman.There is no suggestion that any pictures featuring sexual content are included in the WhatApps leaked so far.A huge file of the messages was sent to a list of team bosses and senior F1 figures yesterday which reads like a Who’s Who of the F1 paddock.Media sources certain to lift the lid on the scandal were also cc’d on an email under the subject “Christian Horner investigation evidence.”Pictures of the same messages – some including Geri’s name – quickly began spreading on X – formerly known as Twitter.READ MORE SUN STORIESHorner landed in Bahrain on Wednesday evening minutes before Red Bull confirmed he would remain at the team’s helm.It remained unclear whether Geri had been shown any of the messages prior to their distribution.Horner pictured with wife Geri Halliwell last yearCredit: GettyChristian Horner pictured earlier today before the practice at the circuitCredit: PAThe team chief chatting to colleagues at Bahrain International CircuitCredit: PAThe embattled F1 chief folded his arms as he sat with teammatesCredit: PAThe F1 boss is at the final testing practice in Bahrain before tomorrow’s F1 season openerCredit: PAHorner was seen hugging Verstappen in BahrainCredit: GettyA look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
    1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
    1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
    1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
    1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
    1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
    2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
    2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
    2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
    2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
    2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
    2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
    2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
    2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
    2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row More

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    Max Verstappen ‘given parking ticket’ as Red Bull’s chaotic week takes bizarre new twist ahead of F1 Bahrain GP

    MAX VERSTAPPEN’S old Red Bull car received a PARKING TICKET in Bosnia earlier this week.The car was placed out in the middle of the street in Sarajevo as members of the public took photos with the prize possession.Max Verstappen’s world championship-winning Red Bull car was given a parking ticketCredit: GettyYet not long after it was put there, a parking ticket appeared on the side of it.The pink and yellow form could be seen near the Halo of the car – which Verstappen claimed his 2022 world title in.It is not known whether the ticket was a joke or a mistake.It is the latest in a string of headlines involving Red Bull ahead of the opening weekend of the 2024 season in Bahrain.READ MORE IN F1On Wednesday, team principal Christian Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing after bombshell claims were made by a female colleague about his behaviour.The 50-year-old will remain at the helm of Red Bull after an internal three-week investigation dismissed the grievance.Meanwhile, Verstappen was left furious after the first practice session in Bahrain as he posted just the sixth fastest time – more than three tenths of a second off the pace.Daniel Ricciardo, driving for Red Bull’s junior team, RB, topped the standings in the first session.Most read in MotorsportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnd Verstappen, bidding to claim a fourth successive world title, was livid as he addressed his team over the radio.He could be heard furiously saying: “Everything is s***. Like miles off.”The Sun’s Ben Hunt reveals his five greatest Formula One Drivers Ever – with Michael Schumacher in between two BritsSeven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finished the second practice session at the head of the pack, followed by Mercedes team-mate George Russell.Once again, Verstappen finished sixth, nearly half a second down on Hamilton. More

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    Shock as Christian Horner sexts to female colleague are LEAKED after Red Bull cleared F1 boss in behaviour probe

    A STRING of shock sexts sent by Christian Horner to a female colleague has been leaked after he was cleared by Red Bull of sexually inappropriate behaviour.The tranche of messages and photos show details of private conversations between the F1 boss and an unknown staffer who appears to be a woman.Christian Horner was cleared of the shocking allegations yesterday and flew to Bahrain this morningHorner’s wife Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was reportedly due to fly to Bahrain just hours before the online leakCredit: GettyHorner looks at his phone intently from the sidelines of the F1 Paddock during day two of testing in Bahrain last FridayChristian Horner told a reporter today he was ‘pleased’ the investigation had been concludedCredit: PAThe series of WhatsApp messages, which also mention Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell, were sent from an anonymous email to hundreds of journalists.While there doesn’t appear to be any explicit images in the messages, some of the texts are sexually suggestive in nature.The leak is another major blow for Red Bull as the messages were revealed just 24 hours after the three-week internal investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour was concluded.In response to the leak, Horner released a statement that read: “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. READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER”It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister and it has concluded dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season.”The Red Bull Racing boss, 50, arrived smiling in Bahrain this morning for the F1 season opener – just two days before the first race.Horner, married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, was told he could keep his post at Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team yesterday.And he told press today he was “pleased” that the investigation had come to an end.Most read in Motorsport Geri, who he married in 2015, was reportedly “relieved and elated” as her husband was cleared of any wrongdoing.And the messages were leaked just hours after Geri was reportedly due to fly to Bahrain to join her husband.The former popstar, 51, has stood firmly by his side throughout the three-week-long probe.Horner has always vehemently denied allegations that he sent inappropriate messages to a woman at work.He told Sky Sports today: “I’m just pleased that the process is over, I can’t comment about it.”The focus is very much now on the Grand Prix and the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles.Inside Christian Horner’s 4-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on “I’m pleased to be here in Bahrain and with the team, focussed on the season ahead.”The team has never been stronger.”The F1 boss looked relaxed this morning as he arrived at the F1 paddock with chief technical officer, Adrian Newey.He grinned as the team got to work at the Bahrain International Circuit and hugged star Max Verstappen as they greeted each other.Red Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company yesterday confirmed the woman’s claims had been thrown out – and a statement was released just minutes after Horner landed in the Gulf kingdom.It said: “Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been ­dismissed. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.“The investigation report is ­confidential and contains the ­private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned.“Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.”The team’s parent company confirmed the complainant, who is understood to still be working at the team’s Milton Keynes HQ, “has a right of appeal”.But other team principals expressed doubt on Red Bull’s investigation as they called on more transparency amid calls for an FIA probe.Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said: “There is a lady in the organisation who indicated that there was a problem, it was investigated and yesterday we all received the message that it was okay. “I believe that a major sport needs more transparency on such dangerous topics. “I wonder what the position of the leadership is. I don’t think it should remain vague as it is now. “We are outsiders and, of course, we don’t know exactly what is going on. “But, looking at just a statement, it doesn’t seem to me how things should go in today’s time. “Although, in Formula 1, we may be in our own bubble and others are satisfied with that.”And McLaren chief Zak Brown said: “There are still many rumours and also many questions. “I think those who run this sport have a responsibility towards the entire sport and all our fans, to make it clear that everything has been clear and transparent for them.”That they come to the same conclusion as Red Bull and they agree with the outcome.”Until then, I think there will continue to be speculation and many unanswered questions about the whole process. That is not healthy for the sport. “It is up to the FIA and Formula 1 whether they can clarify whether they have the clarity that is needed.”A source close to Geri said she has been a “rock” for Christian but the last few weeks have been “hell” for the family.“This has been weeks of hell for Christian and his family. As he has said all along, these claims are ‘nuts’,” they said.“An exhaustive investigation has been carried out and the allegations have proven to be nonsense.“Geri has been rock solid behind Christian — and his whole family is relieved and elated that it’s over. “Those feelings are there but no one close to Christian feels like celebrating much after what he’s been through.“For the time being his focus is back fully on winning races.”Geri was apparently devastated when the news broke earlier this month, left in “floods of tears” and turned to her fellow Spice Girls for support.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd she was said to have insisted behind closed doors that he had done nothing wrong. The Red Bull boss pictured smiling this morning in Bahrain after flying in for the F1 season openerCredit: PAChristian Horner pictured arriving at the circuit with Adrian Newey, the chief technical officerCredit: GettyVerstappen and Horner hugging each other at the F1 paddock in Bahrain todayHorner with wife Geri Halliwell during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco in May 2023Credit: GettyA look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
    1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
    1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
    1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
    1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
    1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
    2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
    2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
    2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
    2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
    2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
    2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
    2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
    2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
    2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row More

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    ‘Everything’s s***’, rants Max Verstappen after disastrous first practice session of new season.. with shock name top

    MAX VERSTAPPEN was left raging after he only posted the sixth fastest time in the first practice session in Bahrain.The 2024 Formula 1 season gets underway this weekend with the opening Grands Prix set for lights out on Saturday.Max Verstappen was left raging after the first practice sessionCredit: ReutersThe defending champion was thoroughly unhappy with his carCredit: AFPDutchman Verstappen, 26, is the overwhelming favourite to clinch a fourth successive drivers’ championship this year.But he made a poor start to the weekend as he finished the opening practice session on Friday more than three tenths of a second off the pace.Former Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo, who now races for their junior team, RB, surprised the paddock by posting the fastest time of the session.The Australian, 34, pipped Lando Norris by three hundredths, with Oscar Piastri, Ricciardo’s team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, and Fernando Alonso rounding out the top five.READ MORE IN F1Verstappen came next ahead of George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.The other Red Bull, Sergio Perez, finished down in 12th.Alpine and Haas propped up the back of the grid, with Nico Hulkenberg a huge five seconds adrift of Ricciardo.But it was Verstappen that was livid as he addressed his team over the radio.Most read in MotorsportBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe reigning world champion could be heard furiously saying: “Everything is s***. Like miles off.”Despite the issues, Verstappen is still the huge favourite to win in Bahrain.F1 Correspondent Ben Hunt on Red Bull and Christian Horner and the Formula One testing in BahrainHe enjoyed an unprecedented season in 2023, winning 19 of the 22 races.Meanwhile, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing after bombshell claims were made by a female colleague about his behaviour.A spokesman said: “The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.”The team’s parent company confirmed the complainant “has a right of appeal”.The spokesman added: “Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. “The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned.”Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.” More