Christian Horner’s ‘sex texts’ accuser is suspended by Red Bull as F1 boss breaks cover in Saudi Arabia without wife Geri Halliwell ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix

Christian Horner’s sexting accuser has been dramatically suspended by Red Bull, it emerged today – as the F1 boss broke cover in Saudi Arabia without his wife Geri Halliwell ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix.

The female staff member accused the Red Bull team boss of ‘coercive behavior’; a claim of which he was cleared in an internal investigation conducted by the team’s parent company in Salzburg last Wednesday.

Mail Sport understands that the decision to suspend her from her duties at the Milton Keynes factory is a direct result of the investigation’s findings. The unnamed employee was still working this week.

A Red Bull spokesperson said: ‘We cannot comment on an internal employee matter.’

The investigation involved 60 hours of evidence and culminated in a 150-page report by a London QC. Horner, the 50-year-old husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is in Saudi Arabia for the Grand Prix this weekend and will meet the press later today.

He has vowed to continue in his £8million-a-year job, despite an email coming to light last week detailing intimate conversations between him and the woman involved.

She can still appeal the outcome of the investigation. The period to do this extends over five days from the time the official legal letters are served on both parties, probably on Monday or Tuesday of this week.

Last week, ahead of the letters, Red Bull’s GmbH released a statement saying: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations against Mr Horner has been completed and Red Bull can confirm that the complaint has been dismissed.

‘The complainant has the right to appeal. 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.”

Today’s shock move reportedly comes after Halliwell demanded that her husband cut ties with the female colleague and wanted the woman ‘out of the picture’. It is understood the former Spice Girl denies the claim.

She put on an awkward show of support for her beleaguered husband Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, with the couple kissing and cuddling for the cameras in front of Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull.

It also follows claims in The Times that the female colleague had been given until yesterday to appeal the decision to clear Horner of controlling behaviour.

The pair have continued to work together since the scandal broke, insiders say the ‘status quo’ could not continue and either the woman or Horner would have to leave.

Today, the Red Bull team boss was spotted deep in conversation with a colleague in the Saudi capital Jeddah, as he faces increasing pressure over his position.

Horner has been publicly criticized by Jos, the father of star driver Max Verstappen, while the two rowed together last week.

While Ginger Spice may have stood by her husband this weekend in a show of solidarity, insiders said the pop star wanted the female employee “out of the picture.”

A source said this earlier The sun: ‘Although she smiled for the cameras during the Grand Prix, Geri has set some strict ground rules.

‘One of these is that Christian breaks or reduces contact with the woman, but that is difficult because of her role at Red Bull.

“And she’s certainly had her say about the messages he’s sending. For obvious reasons, Geri wants to keep the female colleague – who she knew before her appointment – ​​out of the picture as much as possible.’

The source added that Red Bull cannot fire the woman because there is no basis for doing so.

An F1 insider also told the publication that Halliwell, who shares a son, seven-year-old Monty, with Horner, had shown ‘nothing but support’ to her husband but was unlikely to feature at the Saudi Grand Prix next weekend Arabia will be because she is ‘incredibly busy’.

Horner is facing calls to step down from his role and has been accused by Verstappen’s father Jos of ‘tearing the team apart’.

Verstappen Snr, who manages his world champion son Max, told Mail Sport in Bahrain: ‘There is tension here as he stays in position.

‘The team is in danger of being torn apart. It cannot continue as it is. It will explode. He plays the victim, while he is the one causing the problems.’

In further comments to The Telegraph, he said: ‘It can’t go on like this. The situation is not good for the team and is driving people apart.’

But a Red Bull spokesman said: ‘There are no problems here. The team is united and we are focused on racing.”

Ralf Schumacher, the younger brother of seven-time F1 champion Michael, has claimed that either Horner or Max Verstappen should leave Red Bull in the wake of the scandal.

“If Christian Horner holds on to his seat with all his might,” Schumacher, brother of F1 legend Michael, told Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung.

“He will not only damage Red Bull, he will also ensure that Max Verstappen leaves the team.”

Horner, meanwhile, has said he ‘absolutely’ expects to remain in charge at Red Bull for next week’s Grand Prix.

The Red Bull chief told Sky Sports that he ‘wouldn’t be here otherwise’ if he thought he was about to lose control of the F1 team.

He said: ‘We have great support, great partners and also great shareholders behind us.

“You can’t achieve these kinds of results by not being united.”

Asked if he still expects to be in the lead by the time the race starts in Jeddah next week, he said: “Yes, absolutely. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here.’

Before the race, Horner and his wife, whom he has been married to since 2015, were spotted in a public display of unity.

Horner had slipped out the back of Red Bull’s hospitality suite through a gate to meet her as she arrived at the main entrance to the paddock.

They held hands as they walked through the paddock to Red Bull’s hospitality suite. During the short walk they were harassed by photographers and TV crews.

The couple were all smiles at lunch, where they were later joined by Red Bull’s head of communications and former F1 team boss Flavio Briatore and Red Bull’s majority shareholder, and Horner ally, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya.

Horner left for the race grid about 45 minutes before the 3pm start and gave Geri a kiss as he left.

Sources are quoted as saying that the former Spice Girls singer is ‘furious’ with her husband, but has not ‘gone nuclear’.

Friends of Halliwell previously told the publication that she had read him “the riot act” over the situation.

Horner, who has always denied the claims, previously said: “I have the support of a great family, a great wife, a great team and everyone within that team.

‘And my focus is on racing, winning races and doing the best I can.

‘It was a day to start the season in the best possible way. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing.”

The WhatsApp messages were sent from an anonymous email account to 149 members of the F1 paddock – including the chairman of the sport’s governing body Mohammed ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the nine other grid team leaders, as well as members of the media. .

The bombshell email contained 79 documents, including hundreds of messages, many of which were of a sexual nature.

Horner continues to operate in his role as team principal and general manager, although it is understood there is significant disquiet among the team’s plethora of sponsors and partners.

He spoke about the latest allegations only once as he walked from Red Bull’s hospitality suite to the team’s garage on Friday.

“I’m not going to comment on anonymous speculation from unknown sources,” he said.

When asked what comes next, Horner replied: “We’re going to race.”