SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell was “relieved and elated” last night after her F1 boss husband was cleared of sending inappropriate messages to an employee.
The 51-year-old singer stood firmly by Christian Horner, who will remain the boss of the Red Bull Racing team.
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Geri Halliwell endured three weeks of torture following the claims about her husband Christian Horner. Credit: Getty
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Horner, who was acquitted of sending inappropriate messages to an employee, with his wife Geri, whom he married in 2015. Credit: Getty
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Horner appeared to be all smiles today as he arrived in Bahrain for the first Grand PrixCredit: PA
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Horner arrives in the paddock alongside top Red Bull engineer Adrian Newey Credit: Getty
The star lived through three weeks of ordeal after the claims.
Yesterday, Horner, 50, was told he would remain with the team until the end of the season after the woman’s claims were dismissed.
Geri was said to be delighted with the news.
A source said: “These have been weeks of hell for Christian and his family.
“As he’s been saying all along, those claims are ‘crazy.’
“A thorough investigation was conducted and the allegations proved to be nonsense.
“Geri stood firmly behind Christian — and his entire family is relieved and elated that it’s over. Those feelings are there, but no one close to Christian wants to celebrate much after what he’s been through.
“For now he’s refocused on winning races.”
Former racing driver Christian’s £8million-a-year job has been secured after a three-week internal investigation dismissed defamation by an unidentified employee.
Horner appeared to be all smiles as he was pictured arriving at the Bahrain Grand Prix today as his Red Bull team prepare to defend their title.
He was initially under investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior, but it was later said that the investigation involved sending inappropriate messages to a woman.
Geri was said to have been left “in tears” when the scandal first broke earlier this month, with friends including her Spice Girls co-stars supporting her.
Vile Christiana and Geri Horner
Christian, who married the pop star in 2015, has always vehemently denied the claims and vowed to fight to clear his name.
The F1 boss flew to Bahrain ahead of the first race of the F1 season where Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen will lead the team’s latest push for glory.
Now there are no more question marks over Christian’s character
Red Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company released a statement confirming Christian had been cleared minutes after his private jet arrived.
It said: “Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been dismissed. Red Bull is confident that the investigation was fair, rigorous and impartial.
“The investigation report is confidential and contains private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, so we will not comment further out of respect for all concerned.
“Red Bull will continue to strive to meet the highest standards in the workplace.”
The team’s parent company confirmed that the complainant, who is understood to still be working at the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, “has the right to appeal”.
Christian, who has a six-year-old son with Geri and two children from a previous marriage, was questioned by an independent lawyer on February 9.
A source told The Sun last night: “Christian’s career, his marriage and his reputation have all been attacked, but now there are no more questions about his character.
“There is no shadow. But there are questions about how it happened, why it happened and who is responsible.”
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Horner talks to Verstappen’s ex-F1 dad Jos before first practice Credit: Getty
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Horner looks relaxed as he talks on the phone in BahrainCredit: AP
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He sits down with key Red Bull advisor Helmut MarkoCredit: Splash
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The F1 boss talks to Sky Sports ahead of the first race of the seasonCredit: AP
What was claimed?
Formula 1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that the longest-serving team manager in the sport had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austrian-based parent company.
It is believed to be a “file of incriminating material” relating to “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards a woman, The Telegraph reported.
Red Bull’s Austrian parent company has sent an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire racing ace and his accuser.
The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
Recently, however, more accusations have come as De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent inappropriate messages to his employee “over a long period of time”.
It was claimed the messages were saved and presented as evidence to an outside lawyer leading the investigation after the woman complained last December.
Mr Horner has categorically denied the new allegations and is understood to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.
The investigation raised the question of who could take over the helm of world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering racing team.
His wife Geri Halliwell was also “terrified her life is about to unravel” amid Horner’s investigation into “inappropriate behaviour”.
The former Spajsica, who was “in tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit by the bombshell allegations, feared the drama would drag on for years, a source claims.
But Geri (51) stood by her husband.
She told friends, “Christian didn’t do anything wrong.”
Horner oversaw a period of great success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Under Horner’s leadership, Red Bull won seven world championships in Formula 1 and six constructors’ world titles.
Last season, the team won 21 of 22 races on the global F1 tour, with Verstappen, 26, winning the driver’s crown.
Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honors List.
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