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

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      GINGER Spice Geri Halliwell is adamant her F1 boss hubby has “done nothing wrong”, sources close to the star say.Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner, 50, is due to be probed by a lawyer on Friday over shock allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female colleague.
      Christian Horner of Red Bull Racing and his wife Geri HalliwellCredit: Getty
      Christian Horner was pictured leaving his Highgate home this morning, in what was the first sighting of him since news of the allegations brokeCredit: Ray Collins
      Sources say Ginger Spice Geri Halliwell is now refusing to speak to ‘anyone’Credit: Getty
      News of the allegations broke on Monday as Horner was locked in preparations for Red Bull’s defence of its championship titles – and just weeks out from Horner and Geri’s 10-year anniversary.
      Geri, 51, has told pals she does not believe the woman’s claims.
      A source close to the Spice Girl said: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
      “She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Read more on Christian Horner
      The Red Bull F1 boss, who runs the all-conquering team of world champion Max Verstappen and is on an estimated salary of £8million, said: “I completely deny these claims.”
      He broke cover for the first time today as he prepares to face a D-Day grilling over the allegations.
      It is understood the woman complained to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in Austria, which said on Monday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
      “This process, which is already underway, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.
      “It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
      Spice Girl Geri Horner posts loved-up message to husband Christian as Red Bull F1 boss turns 50
      Former racing driver Horner married Geri at a church wedding in Woburn, Beds in 2015 following a year-long engagement.
      Horner has a seven-year-old son with Geri and a daughter from a previous relationship, while Geri has a 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
      The fresh allegations come just weeks out from the 10-year anniversary of when Horner and Geri started dating in March 2014.
      Sources have predicted Horner could be gone by “next week” after “losing support” from his team amid the probe.
      All parties involved in the investigation are understood to want to have reached “a conclusion” before Red Bull’s 2024 car is launched on February 15, The Telegraph reports.
      Red Bull Racing’s Austria-based parent company has reportedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards one female staffer.
      Horner immediately denied the allegations, stating on Monday: “I reject these claims entirely.”
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

      The investigation is, according to sources, going to focus on the complainant’s concerns about Horner’s strict work regime and does not relate to any sexual impropriety.
      An F1 source told The Sun: “Christian had concerns about her conduct and made it clear he was unhappy.
      “She went on to make a complaint about his ‘controlling’ behaviour, which detonated this crisis for the team.”
      Formula One’s longest-standing team principal could be replaced by Red Bull team manager Jonathan Wheatley on an interim basis if required, insiders allege.
      A pal close to Horner yesterday said he is confident the F1 boss will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
      The source told the Daily Mail: “Christian is speaking privately and says that he will clear his name and come through this.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      It comes as Horner’s team, steered by world champ Max Verstappen, prepares for the start of the 2024 season, with the first race to kick off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles since Horner took over as team principal in 2005.
      Horner will fight to save his career on Friday
      Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell pose after the F1 Grand Prix of Italy in 2014Credit: Getty More

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      Five candidates who could replace Christian Horner at Red Bull amid probe into allegations of inappropriate behaviour

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      RED BULL boss Christian Horner is set to face a hearing into allegations of inappropriate behaviour on Friday.The fall-out could have huge ramifications on the 50-year-old who has been with the team since January 2005.
      Christian Horner is facing an inquest into allegations of inappropriate behaviourCredit: Splash
      Here SunSport looks at the five candidates who could replace him, if he leaves his position.
      Oliver Oakes
      Oliver Oakes is currently team boss of the Hitech GP teamCredit: Getty
      Oakes would be a ready-made replacement and interestingly has a similar career path to Horner.
      The Brit, 35, is a former racing driver turned team-owner in the lower formulas, just like Horner.
      However, Oakes is also a former Red Bull junior driver so has strong links with the race team and company’s HQ in Austria.
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      He is currently team boss of the Hitech GP team that had applied to join F1 in 2026, only for their bid to be rejected.
      Hitech GP compete in Formula 2 and Formula 3 and run drivers from the Red Bull young driver programme.
      Jonathan Wheatley
      Jonathan Wheatley is the current Red Bull Racing Team ManagerCredit: Getty
      The 56-year-old currently serves as Red Bull Racing’s Sporting Director.
      Wheatley started in F1 with Benetton as a junior mechanic working his way up to become the chief mechanic until he joined Red Bull in 2006.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He has held the role of team manager and is now responsible for the operation of the team with many feeling his work has been a major factor behind the team’s success.
      Wheatley shot to prominence as a result of his radio messages with former race director Michael Masi at the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP where Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the title.
      Christian Horner admits Mercedes ‘f***ed up’ with Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen won F1 title thanks to cramp
      Guenther Steiner
      Gunether Steiner has previously worked with Red BullCredit: Getty
      The colourful Italian is out of work after being ditched by the Haas team over the winter.
      Steiner has bags of F1 experience and is a popular figure in the paddock although has never taken charge of a team capable of fighting for wins.
      However, his previous spell working at Red Bull as a technical manager was littered with problems of poor performance and overheating issues with the car.
      Oliver Mintzlaf
      Oliver Mintzlaff previously worked in football with RB LeipzigCredit: Getty
      The German businessman is currently serving as part of a three-man management team of Red Bull.
      He previously held the role working as CEO of Red Bull Leipzig and as Red Bull’s Head of Global Soccer.
      The former long-distance runner, 48, has also worked for sportswear giants, Puma.
      While he has no experience of running an F1 team, he would offer the energy drink a safe pair of hands until they found a permanent replacement.
      Jos Verstappen and Helmut Marko
      Jos Verstappen and Helmut Marko would be a controversial choiceCredit: Getty
      A double-act of Max Verstappen’s father and Red Bull’s advisor would be a controversial choice.
      Both are aligned with the current world champion and would see the team effectively be wrapped around the Dutchman.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      That would not bode well for Sergio Perez, who is in the other seat.
      Both Marko and Verstappen are former F1 drivers but in the interests of rebuilding harmony, it would be an unthinkable suggestion. More

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

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      RED Bull chief Christian Horner has privately vowed to “clear his name” ahead of a D-Day grilling over claims of “inappropriate and controlling behaviour”.Horner, 50, will fight to save his career at a hearing at team headquarters on Friday following the allegations made by a female colleague.
      Christian Horner is facing a formal investigation over his conduct towards a female stafferCredit: Getty
      His wife Geri Halliwell is standing firm by his side through the scandalCredit: AFP
      Sources say the Ginger Spice star is refusing to speak to ‘anyone’ after news broke of the allegationsCredit: Getty
      A pal close to the F1 boss and his Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell, 51, revealed that Horner believes he will be cleared of wrongdoing.
      “Christian is speaking privately and says that he will clear his name and come through this,” the source told the Daily Mail.
      Halliwell is said to be devastated by the bombshell allegations – but will firmly stand by Horner, who she married in 2015.
      Another source said: “[She is] not talking to anyone at the moment. Geri seems to be simply too upset to engage with anyone. Just lots of tears.
      read more on christian horner
      “She will stand by him and be at his side just as much as she always has been. She never misses a race and that will not change.”
      Formula One was rocked on Monday by the news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull Austria.
      The parent company has allegedly compiled a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding inappropriate and controlling behaviour towards one female staffer, The Telegraph reported.
      Horner issued an immediate denial on Monday, stating: “I reject these claims entirely.”
      Most read in Motorsport
      It is understood that the Red Bull principal will be quizzed by an independent lawyer appointed to examine the unnamed woman’s claims at the crunch meeting on Friday.
      Sources say the investigation is set to centre on the employee’s concerns about Horner’s strict work regime and does not relate to any sexual impropriety.

      An F1 source told The Sun: “Christian had concerns about her conduct and made it clear he was unhappy.
      “She went on to make a complaint about his ‘controlling’ behaviour, which detonated this crisis for the team.”
      Another source said: “It’s an awkward situation but it’s unavoidable until the air is cleared and this matter is resolved.”
      Mum-of-two Halliwell reportedly turned her phone off on Monday due to streams of cruel messages online, with fans demanding she leave her husband.
      The glamorous couple got married in Bedfordshire in 2015 and have one child together, Montague, aged seven.
      The racing boss is also stepdad to Halliwell’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 17, and has another daughter, Olivia, 10, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      Another source told The Mail: “She is committed to him with every fibre of her being.”
      However, the scandal engulfing her husband has blown a “Grand Canyon-sized crack” right in the middle of her “super-perfect, super-posh life,” they claimed.
      It followed reports that Geri had been in “floods of tears” last weekend as she looked after her kids.
      A source close to the singer told The Sun: “She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Horner – who is on an estimated salary of £8million at Red Bull – has been preparing for the start of the 2024 season with his all-conquering team led by world champion Max Verstappen.
      Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Since Horner took over as team principal in 2005, Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles.
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, beating Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

      His defenders have reportedly claimed the accusations are part of a plot to oust him within the team amid an internal power struggle.
      Rumours of the unrelated internal issues within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.
      Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      Red Bull Austria said on Monday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      “The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
      Red Bull’s golden boy Max Verstappen poses with Horner after winning the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of last season
      Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s death in October, 2022 allegedly sparked a power struggle at Red BullCCredit: AFP
      The Spice Girl is said to be committed to Horner with ‘every fibre of her being’Credit: Getty
      The star-studded pair married in 2015 and share one daughterCredit: Splash News More

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

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

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

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

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

      Horner – who is on an estimated salary of £8million – has been preparing for the start of the 2024 season with his all-conquering team of world champion Max Verstappen.
      Red Bull is said to want the issue sorted out before the first race kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Since Horner took over as team principal in 2005, Red Bull has won seven F1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles.
      His defenders reportedly claimed the accusations are part of a plot to oust him within the team amid an internal power struggle.
      Rumours of the unrelated internal issues within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.
      Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Red Bull Austria said on Monday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation. This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      “The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
      Red Bull’s golden boy Max Verstappen poses with Horner after winning the Qatar Grand Prix at the end of last season
      Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz’s death in October, 2022 allegedly sparked a power struggle at Red BullCredit: AP
      The star-studded pair live on a multi-million pound estate in Oxfordshire More

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

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

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

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      RED BULL RACING could potentially lose another key man if Christian Horner departs due to a contract clause, claims a shock report.Motorsports was rocked on Monday when an investigation was launched into team boss Horner over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.
      Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner has denied the shock allegations against himCredit: PA
      Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer of Red Bull, could also potentially depart, reports claimCredit: Getty
      The Formula One team are looking into claims made against the 50-year-old by an employee of the company.
      Horner, the husband of Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, has “completely” denied the claims made against him.
      Sources say the allegation concerns Horner’s strict work regime rather than sexual impropriety.
      But Red Bull, who boast the current world champion Max Verstappen as their star man, said it “takes these matters extremely seriously” as an independent investigation was launched.
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      Horner, who earns an estimated salary of £8million at Red Bull, and the team have been preparing for the 2024 season.
      But the team’s plans could have been thrown into turmoil following these explosive allegations.
      And F1 journalist Joe Saward has now taken to X, formerly known as Twitter, to claim that things could get even worse.
      He speculated over the future of Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey amid the Horner controversy.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He wrote: “It has long been believed that Christian Horner and Adrian Newey have contracts that protect one another.
      “If one leaves the other can as well.
      “This has never been confirmed – but it makes for an interesting dynamic if something was to happen to Horner…”
      Did Charles Leclerc drop secret hint about Lewis Hamilton joining Ferrari from Mercedes in awkward interview LAST YEAR?
      The 65-year-old Newey has been with the team since 2006.
      The first race of the upcoming campaign is in Bahrain on March 2.
      Horner has been leading the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull since their arrival on the grid in 2005 and has overseen a huge period of success.
      Red Bull has won seven drivers’ championships and six constructors’ championships under him and they won 21 of the 22 races as Verstappen claimed the drivers’ title last season.
      Away from the track, Horner married Geri, 51, in 2015 and they have one child together, Montague, seven.
      Horner is also stepdad to Geri’s daughter Bluebell Madonna, 17, and has another daughter, Olivia, 10, from a previous relationship with ex-partner Beverley Allen.
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

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

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      CHRISTIAN Horner is set to face a crunch meeting over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour”.The Red Bull Racing chief, 50, is being investigated over claims made by a female colleague.
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner is under investigation over allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’Credit: Getty
      Max Verstappen and Horner pose after the Qatar Grand Prix in October last yearCredit: Getty
      The female staffer is understood to have complained about Horner – pictured with wife Geri – to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in AustriaCredit: PA
      Horner tied the knot with Geri, 51, in 2015 and have one child togetherCredit: Instagram / gerihalliwellhorner
      Horner, who is married to Spice Girl Geri Halliwell and runs the team of world champion Max Verstappen, said: “I completely deny these claims.”
      The woman is understood to have complained to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in Austria about “inappropriate behaviour”.
      Horner is now the focus of a probe being run by an independent lawyer appointed to examine her allegations.
      The F1 chief will be quizzed on Friday by an investigator instructed by Red Bull in Austria.
      Read more on Horner
      It is understood the hearing will take place in the UK.
      F1 sources said the allegations against Horner could jeopardise his position at the helm of the Red Bull team.
      On Tuesday, Horner fulfilled his work schedule as planned.
      He’s expected to be in the office on Wednesday as Red Bull prepare their F1 car for the 2024 season – set to be launched on February 15.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He was preparing for Red Bull’s defence of their championship titles when news of the colleague’s accusation against him broke.
      The internal investigation has rocked the F1 operation ahead of the new season – which kicks off in Bahrain on March 2.
      Horner has won 13 titles with the Milton Keynes-based team – and has a notoriously-high worth ethic and expects similar from his staff.
      His drive has seen the team achieve considerable success since he joined in 2005.
      He set about signing key employees to achieve success – including design whizz Andrian Newey, who joined from McLaren the following year, and Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley, from Benetton.
      60 Second News Briefing – Christian Horner investigated and Taylor Swift Grammy’s win
      Newey, F1’s greatest designer, has formed a strong partnership with Horner and there has been a long-standing rumour that the two’s contracts are linked, binding both with the team.
      Red Bull Racing are looking to defend their constructors and drivers’ championship titles in the 2024 season.
      But before the investigation was revealed, it is understood trouble was already brewing beneath the surface at Red Bull Racing.
      Rumours of an unrelated power struggle within the team’s leadership have swirled since the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022.
      After the billionaire’s death, Red Bull drafted in a new board of directors to oversee the business.
      Former RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff was appointed chief executive.
      Despite Red Bull enjoying its most successful season in F1 history in 2023, there was speculation of a rift between Horner and Helmut Marko – Red Bull GmBH’s motorsport advisor.
      Rumours even went as far as to suggest Horner was determined to get rid of Marko, 80, from the team, reports the Telegraph.
      Formula 1 reporter Erik van Haren said the power struggle appears to be coming to a “climax now”.
      The next step will depend on the outcome of Friday’s meeting and the support of Red Bull’s Thai owner.
      Wife Geri, 51, was standing by him last night, telling pals she does not believe gossip that has been swirling for days.
      A source close to the Ginger Spice star said: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
      “She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Red Bull Racing’s Austria-based parent company said: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
      “This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
      “The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
      A Red Bull Racing source said: “Nothing further is being added to ensure the integrity of the investigation is respected.”
      A look at Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

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