Geri Halliwell ‘relieved’ after hell when husband Christian Horner was released
SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell was left “relieved and delighted” last night after her F1 boss husband was cleared of sending inappropriate messages to a female employee.
The 51-year-old singer was firmly behind Christian Horner, who remains as team boss of Red Bull Racing.
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The star endured three weeks of torment following the claims.
Yesterday, 50-year-old Horner was told he would remain with the team until the end of the season after the woman’s claims were rejected.
Geri is said to be delighted about the news.
A source said: “These have been weeks of hell for Christian and his family.
“As he has said all along, these claims are ‘crazy’.
“An extensive investigation has been conducted and the allegations have been found to be nonsense.
“Geri stands firmly behind Christian – and his entire family is relieved and elated that it is over. Those feelings are there, but no one in his immediate environment feels like celebrating much after what he has experienced.
“For the time being, his focus is again entirely on winning races.”
Former racing driver Christian’s £8million-a-year job was secured after a three-week internal investigation rejected the unknown employee’s taint.
He was initially under investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior, but it was later said the investigation related to sending inappropriate messages to the woman.
Geri is said to have been left “in tears” when the scandal first broke earlier this month and was supported by friends including her fellow Spice Girls.
Christian, who married the pop star in 2015, had vehemently denied the claims and vowed to fight to clear his name.
The F1 boss flew to Bahrain ahead of the opening race of the F1 season, where Red Bull’s world champion Max Verstappen will lead the team’s latest bid for glory.
There are now no more questions about Christian’s character
A statement confirming that Christian had been cleared was released by Red Bull Racing’s Austrian parent company within minutes of his private jet’s arrival.
It said: “Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been rejected.
Red Bull is confident that the investigation was fair, rigorous and impartial.
“The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who participated in the investigation. Out of respect for all involved, we will therefore make no further comment.
“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 believed to still work 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 were attacked but there are now no questions about his character.
“There is no shade. But questions are being asked about how this happened, why it happened and who was responsible.”
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What has been claimed?
F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that the sport’s longest-serving team boss had been put under investigation by Red Bull’s Austrian-based parent company.
This was thought to be about a ‘file containing incriminating material’ about ‘inappropriate and controlling behaviour’ towards a woman, The Telegraph reported.
Red Bull’s Austrian parent company sent an independent lawyer to Britain to question the multimillionaire and his accuser.
The former driver, who leads world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims last week.
However, more allegations have recently emerged The Telegraph reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to his employee “over an extended period of time.”
Messages were allegedly saved and presented as evidence to the outside lawyer who led the investigation after the woman filed a complaint last December.
Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and would take legal action against De Telegraaf.
An F1 source told The Sun last week that “Christian has not been fired or asked to resign and he has no intention of resigning.”
The investigation raises the question of who could take over the helm of world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering racing team.
His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified that her life will unravel” amid Horner’s investigation into “inappropriate behaviour”.
The ex-Spice Girl, who “burst into tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source claims.
But Geri, 51, is believed to have her husband’s back.
She has told friends: “Christian did nothing wrong.”
Horner has had an enormous period of success for the racing team: he won several F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
Red Bull has won seven Formula 1 Drivers’ World Championships and six Constructors’ World Championships under Horner’s leadership.
Last season the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, with 26-year-old Verstappen winning the drivers’ crown.
Horner received a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honors List.