Geri Halliwell WILL now attend Saudi Arabia Grand Prix after husband Christian Horner’s accuser was suspended by Red Bull following text message row

Geri Halliwell will attend the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after her husband Christian Horner’s accuser was suspended by Red Bull.

The woman accused the Red Bull team boss of ‘coercive behavior’ – a claim of which he was acquitted in an internal investigation last Wednesday before WhatsApps of an allegedly suggestive nature were leaked the next day.

Mail Sport understands that the decision to suspend her is a direct result of the investigation’s findings. She was told her evidence was ‘dishonest’.

Confronted by reporters at a press conference yesterday, Horner, 51, admitted the saga had taken its toll on his family, while fending off questions about the woman at the center of it.

He also said his wife and former Spice Girl had been ‘hugely supportive’, but admitted the scandal had been ‘really tough’ on his family.

The couple looked in good spirits all day and shared several kisses on a successful day on track for the team

Red Bull team boss Christian Horner is pictured on March 8 during training ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

“It’s obviously been a very difficult period,” he said. ‘I am married and have three children. And when that intrusion includes your children and the control placed on your marriage.

‘I am lucky to have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife. Of course it is very difficult, it is very challenging. When there are children involved, parents, families, it’s not pretty.”

He added that the complaint had been “handled in the most professional manner” by Red Bull’s parent company, which had appointed one of the best “QCs in the country”.

‘He interviewed everyone involved, but also other interested parties. He looked at everything and came to the conclusion that he rejected the complaint. As far as I am concerned, and as far as Red Bull is concerned, we have moved on and we are looking to the future. It is now time to draw a line under that.’

Referring to the messages sent last week, he said: “I think a lot of information about this has been leaked in a private and confidential matter between the employees and the company.”

But he declined to comment further on the employee’s suspension, saying the “grievance process” was “confidential between the individuals and the company.”

Christian Horner faced a barrage of questions on Thursday after a week of unwanted headlines

The 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 on Thursday before training

After the dramatic announcement of the suspension, 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.

The employee can still appeal against 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.

Horner, whose team made the perfect start to their double title defense in the season opener, was keen to put the spotlight back on the Grand Prix on Saturday.

After answering a barrage of questions on the subject, he called for an end to the invasion of his private life and focus on racing.

“The infringement on my family is enough now,” he said. ‘We have to move forward. It is now time to focus on why we are here, which is to race in Formula 1.”

Geri Halliwell joined Horner on race day last week in a defiant show of support for her embattled husband

The couple celebrated with an awkward-looking hug after Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday

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.”

Thursday’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’.

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