Verstappen’s father lashes out at Horner as he supports the suspended Red Bull employee

JOS Verstappen says it is “too late” for F1 boss Christian Horner to “draw the line” under the sexting scandal that has engulfed him.

The former racing driver also gave his support to the female Red Bull employee who was suspended after the row reached breaking point.

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Geri Halliwell, 51, is expected to join her sext-probe husband at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix today.

The pop icon stayed in Dubai while Horner, 50, battled a female assistant’s discredited claims that he bombarded her with ‘sexually suggestive’ messages.

Former Grand Prix ace Jos, 52, the father of current world champion and Red Bull’s main driver Max Verstappen, spoke for the first time since the unidentified staffer was suspended.

He told MailOnline: “I sympathize with the woman, with everything she has been through, but we will see what happens.”

Asked whether it is time to “draw a line” on the situation, as Horner urged people to do this week, Jos said: “I think it’s a bit too late for that now.

“If that’s what he wants, fine, but I don’t think it will be possible.”

Jos denied there was any truth to the speculation that he and the woman were involved in any way and said Red Bull seemed to know what they were doing regarding her situation.

He added that his biggest concern was his son Max: his happiness and the way the scandal affected him.

According to Jos, the press conference in Saudi Arabia where Horner said it was time to “focus on what’s happening on the track” was all about him when it should have been about Max, his performance and the car.

Allegations of inappropriate behavior against Horner were dismissed by a lawyer-led investigation.

Ginger Spice Geri has been left heartbroken by the scandal, which broke out when a series of embarrassing messages were posted online on the eve of the F1 season opener.

The pop icon showed a show of unity at the Bahrain Grand Prix last week, in which Red Bull achieved a perfect 1-2 victory led by world champion Max Verstappen.

And she is now also expected to join Christian in Jeddah this weekend, ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Geri wanted her husband to cut off all contact with his unknown accuser, but he found it impossible to comply as they remained in regular contact at work.

It comes after the employee, who is believed to have turned up for work at the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, Bucks, was suspended on full pay.

The ongoing saga haunting Red Bull has been complicated by behind-the-scenes clashes between star driver Verstappen’s father, Jos, and Horner.

Insiders said Jos had become close to the woman, but he has strongly denied being the text leaker, while warning that Horner’s team would “explode” if he is not ousted.

Red Bull Racing said: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter.”

Horner was seen in the Saudi Arabia paddock today for training ahead of the next one race without Geri by his side.

Geri was in the air en route to Bahrain after her husband was acquitted when the lyrics were widely published online through a anonymously drop email.

Halliwell and Horner have been married since 2015 and share a son.