Christian Horner faces fallout as WhatsApp messages go viral online

Christian Horner appeared solitary as he arrived at the Bahrain Grand Prix today, mere hours after a barrage of private messages sent by him to a female colleague surfaced.

The leaked cache of texts, sent anonymously to F1 authorities and media outlets, definitively revealed that Horner had indeed sent inappropriate messages, all while his wife, Geri Halliwell, remained unaware, despite a prior clearance from a Red Bull internal investigation.

Sporting a focused demeanor with a faint smile, Horner was captured as the 2024 Formula One season kicked off. Refusing to address the leaked WhatsApp messages directly, the unsettling contents included requests for a “Santa PJ selfie” and jests about Spanx, complimenting the recipient on their appearance while wearing them.

In one exchange, Horner initiates with a request to “confess,” recounting an incident aboard a private jet to Dubai where he claimed the woman had him “out of control.”

Despite this scandal, the Red Bull Racing chief seemed determined and poised for the challenges of the new Formula One season.

Horner, seen alone, strode into the paddock ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix today, the presence of his wife, Geri Halliwell, unknown.

Previously, Horner was photographed during a practice session in Bahrain, engaged in preparations with driver Max Verstappen for the upcoming qualifying rounds. His day seemed filled with activity, from pacing between the team’s hospitality area and garage to moments of checking his phone and graciously signing autographs for young fans.

Reports surfaced that Horner, who has steered the team to 13 world titles since assuming leadership at 31 in 2005, had been summoned for urgent discussions with F1 officials.

Tension hung palpably in the paddock, with Red Bull team members conspicuously avoiding mention of the brewing scandal, save for occasional murmurs.

Meanwhile, Horner’s wife, Geri Halliwell, was reportedly left devastated and embarrassed by the emergence of the explicit messages between her husband and the female employee.

The Spice Girl, aged 51, landed in Bahrain as the scandal unfolded globally. Initially adamant about not seeing Horner, she relented at the urging of his family, particularly his mother, who implored her to stand by him publicly as a gesture of solidarity.

In the midst of this turmoil, it came to light that Geri was acquainted with the female employee involved and had even sanctioned her role within Horner’s team.

As the leaked messages circulated, the employee reportedly felt “unhappy” and viewed the investigation into Horner’s conduct as unfairly biased against her.

Allegations surfaced that a mole within the Red Bull Racing camp orchestrated the leak, purportedly aiming to remove Horner from his role as team principal.

Red Bull launched an investigation into claims that an unknown entity within their ranks orchestrated the WhatsApp disclosure, effectively acting as a “puppet master.”

The timing of the leak, coming on the heels of Horner’s clearance just a day prior, appeared calculated to inflict maximum damage to his career, casting a shadow over the start of the F1 season.
Sun Uk reports.