Geri Halliwell has arrived at the Saudi Grand Prix to show support for her husband Christian Horner over the ‘sex texts’ scandal.
The former Spice Girl Halliwell is there to publicly support her husband amidst the media and F1 scrutiny.
It is the second time she has attended a Grand Prix during the controversy as she attended the Bahrain GP last week just days after learning about the leaked texts.
She was pictured smiling and chatting with her embattled husband in the paddock today prior to the race around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
Her arrival came after the chief executive of Red Bull backed Horner ahead of the race.
Geri Halliwell pictured arriving at the Saudi Grand Prix to show support for her husband Christian Horner over the ‘sex texts’ scandal
Halliwell was pictured smiling and chatting with her embattled husband Christian Horner in the paddock prior to the race
Former Spice Girl Halliwell is there to publicly support her husband after attending the Bahrain GP last week just days after learning about the leaked texts
The couple appeared to be in good spirits and comfortable around each other
Formula 1 boss Horner, 50, who is married to the former pop star, 51, was accused of ‘coercive behaviour’ by a female colleague last month – a claim he was cleared of in an internal inquiry last Wednesday.
Then, just 24 hours after he was exonerated, a series of WhatsApps, supposedly between him and his accuser, were leaked to members of the press and Formula One bosses.
Horner, who claimed earlier this week that the grievance has been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’, has now been pictured speaking with Franz Watzlawick, CEO of Red Bull, prior to the race in Jeddah today.
The pair appeared to be in deep conversation as they sat side by side in the Red Bull Racing paddock before posing for a photograph together in an apparent show of unity.
Horner, who claimed earlier this week that the grievance has been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’, has now been pictured speaking with Franz Watzlawick, CEO of Red Bull, prior to the race in Jeddah today.
Horner’s accuser is a colleague of the Red Bull team principal and was suspended earlier this week on full pay because of the probe.
Officials claimed it was because she had been ‘dishonest’ but sources have expressed shock claiming she has been hung out to dry while Horner has kept his £8 million a year job.
Christian Horner pictured speaking with Franz Watzlawick, CEO of Red Bull, in the team paddock prior to the race in Jeddah
Horner and Watzlawick looked to be in deep discussion ahead of today’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix in Jeddah
A grinning Watzlawick grabs Horner’s arm as the two men appeared to be in high spirits ahead of the Grand Prix today
Horner was also seen speaking with Saudi Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal ahead of the second race of the F1 season today
Horner appeared to show the Prince something on his phone as they chatted before the race
Jos Verstappen pictured taking part in the Hannut Rally in Belgium earlier this week
Horner talks with Jos Verstappen prior to practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on February 29
Christian Horner chats with head of communications at Red Bull Paul Smith on the deck of the Red Bull hospitality suite on March 9
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner is pictured on March 8 during practice ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix
Red Bull boss has so far resisted calls for him to resign from the position he has held since 2005. Horner is pictured on March 7 ahead of the F1 Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Horner was seen laughing with Max Verstappen in the garage ahead of practice on Thursday
Christian Horner pictured with a smile of his face during qualifying for the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on March 8
It was revealed yesterday that the woman has won backing from former Grand Prix ace Jos Verstappen, 52, who is the father of current world champion Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s prime driver.
Speaking exclusively to while taking part in the Hannut Rally in Belgium, he said: ‘I sympathise with the woman, with all that she went through, but we will see what happens.’
When asked if it was time to ‘draw a line’ under the situation, as Horner said at his press conference in Saudi Arabia ahead of this weekend’s race, Verstappen snr was dismissive.
He 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. I don’t want to talk too much more as it will create problems.
‘But the most important thing for me is that Max is happy, that’s what counts for me, I just want him to be happy.’
Rumours have been swirling around the F1 circuit that it was Verstappen snr who leaked the incriminating texts allegedly between the woman and Horner last month.
‘But the most important thing for me is that Max is happy, that’s what counts for me, I just want him to be happy.’
‘But the most important thing for me is that Max is happy, that’s what counts for me, I just want him to be happy.’
And there have even been suggestions he is involved with her, but he has denied any such involvement.
When asked again about her fate Verstappen snr – who was driving a Skoda in the rally – said: ‘Red Bull seem to know what they are doing with her, we will see. But I think it is for her to come out and see what happens.
‘I’m not fully up to speed with what is happening with her.’
He added: ‘But all these things that are going on are having an influence on Max.
‘He was third in the first practice, and all we hear about is Horner and what happened with his situation.
Verstappen snr, 52, is the father of current world champion Max Verstappen (pictured)
Max Verstappen pictured in conversation with his father Jos. Verstappen snr yesterday gave his backing to the woman involved in the ‘sex texts’ scandal
Christian Horner smiles in the pits during the Qualifying for the Formula One Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on March 8
Christian Horner faced a barrage of questions on Thursday following a week of unwanted headlines
Horner pictured during the team principals’ press conference during practice ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix on March 7
‘In the press conference Horner gave the other day it was all about him and his problems when we should be talking about Max, the car, his performance and the race.
‘I’ve already said I think it is causing problems if he stays.’
Verstappen snr added: ‘I think it’s too late for Christian to say “leave me alone” but he has the support of the Thai owner so I think he will stay for the rest of the season.
‘I said it would bad if he stayed, it really isn’t good for the team, this whole situation.’
After last weekend’s race in Bahrain, Verstappen snr and Horner were pictured talking animatedly in a trailer home.
But Verstappen snr laughed off any suggestions of a row and said: ‘That was earlier, on Friday, before the race.
‘He was saying to me “Do you trust me? I will do everything for your son” and we were talking with our hands, we didn’t have a fight.
‘But on Friday we did have an argument in the office, and I walked out but, in the trailer, he came up to me and said “Congratulations, good race”.’
Verstappen snr carved out an F1 career between 1994 and 2003 gaining two podium places before later switching to rally driving.
He told : ‘There are less problems in rallying than in Formula 1, there are not so many controversies, it’s more enjoyable.’
Horner faced reporters in a press conference on Thursday ahead of today’s race and admitted that the scandal had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions on the woman at the centre of it.
He also said his wife had been ‘hugely supportive’ but admitted the scandal had been ‘very trying’ on his family.
‘It’s obviously been a very trying period,’ he said. ‘I’m married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed upon your marriage.
‘I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and very supportive wife. Of course, It’s very trying, it’s very challenging. When there’s children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.’
He added that the grievance had been ‘dealt with in the most professional manner’ by Red Bull’s parent company GmbH, which had appointed one of the top ‘KCs in the land’.
‘He interviewed all of the people involved, as well as others of interest. He looked at everything and he came to the conclusion where he dismissed the grievance.
‘As far as I am concerned, and as far as Red Bull are concerned, we moved on and we look to the future. The time now is to draw a line under it.’
Geri Halliwell accompanied Horner on race day last week in a defiant show of support for her embattled husband
The couple were seen walking through a sea of journalists as they made their way to the track ahead of the race
The pair shrugged off reports that their relationship was jeopardy as they sat together ahead of the Bahrain GP on March 2
The couple looked in good spirits throughout the day and shared several kisses on a successful day on the track for the team
The couple celebrated with an awkward looking hug after Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday
Geri talks with Jos Verstappen in the garage after Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain GP
Referring to the messages sent last week, he said: ‘I think there’s been an awful lot of leakage around this in what is a private and confidential matter between the employees and company.’
But he refused to comment further on the employee’s suspension, saying that the ‘grievance process’ was ‘confidential between the individuals and the company’.
Following the dramatic suspension announcement, a spokesman for Red Bull said: ‘We are unable to comment on an internal employee matter.’ The inquiry heard 60 hours of evidence and culminated in a 150-page report by a London QC.
The employee can still appeal the outcome of the inquiry. The window to do so extends five days from when the official legal letters were served to both parties, which is believed to have been on either Monday or Tuesday of this week.
Horner, whose team made the perfect start to their double title defence in the season opener, was keen to bring attention back to the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.
After fielding a barrage of questions of the topic, he called for the invasion into his private life to cease and attention turned towards racing.
‘The intrusion on my family is now enough,’ he said. ‘We need to move forward. It’s time now to focus on why we’re here, which is to go Formula One racing.’
Last week Red Bull’s GmbH issued a statement saying: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.
‘The complainant has a right of appeal. 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.’
Thursday’s shock move came after Halliwell mounted a show of support for her beleaguered husband at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, with the couple kissing and hugging in front of the cameras before Max Verstappen’s race win.