A STRING of shock texts allegedly sent by Christian Horner have been leaked after he was cleared by Red Bull of sexually inappropriate behaviour.
The tranche of messages and photos seemingly show details of private conversations between the F1 boss and an unknown person.
Christian Horner was cleared of the shocking allegations yesterday and flew to Bahrain this morning
GettyHorner’s wife Spice Girl Geri Halliwell was reportedly due to fly to Bahrain just hours before the online leak[/caption]
Horner looks at his phone intently from the sidelines of the F1 Paddock during day two of testing in Bahrain last Friday
PAChristian Horner telling a reporter today he was ‘pleased’ the investigation had been concluded[/caption]
They were revealed just 24 hours after the three-week internal investigation by Red Bull into alleged inappropriate behaviour was concluded.
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.
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.
“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”.
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.
And she was said to have insisted behind closed doors that he had done nothing wrong.
PAThe Red Bull boss pictured smiling this morning in Bahrain after flying in for the F1 season opener[/caption]
GettyChristian Horner pictured arriving at the circuit with Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer[/caption]
Verstappen and Horner hugging each other at the F1 paddock in Bahrain today
GettyHorner with wife Geri Halliwell during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco in May 2023[/caption]
A look at Christian Horner’s life and career
CHRISTIAN 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