Christian Horner and Max Verstappen have been seen hugging as the Red Bull F1 team put on a show of unity at the Australian Grand Prix following the ‘sex texts’ scandal.
Red Bull team boss Horner, married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, finally showed up at Albert Park in Melbourne ahead of the upcoming race after the turbulent past few weeks – and seemed to get on well with his organization’s star driver Verstappen.
Horner was speaking to Verstappen and the driver’s manager Raymond Vermeulen, despite the team boss being criticized by the driver’s father after the ‘sexting’ controversy.
An internal investigation was conducted ahead of the 2024 season following a complaint from a female employee at Red Bull and Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing just a day before the first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
What appeared to be intimate WhatsApp conversations that Horner allegedly sent to the female colleague were leaked to a number of key F1 figures and the media just 24 hours later, putting his behavior back in the spotlight.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has finally been spotted at Albert Park after dodging photographers upon arriving in Australia
Horner was seen hugging Red Bull star driver Max Verstappen
Horner was pictured meeting Max Verstappen and the driver’s manager Raymond Vermeulen, arriving shortly at the Albert Park circuit on Thursday.
There are reports casting doubt on Verstappen’s (right) future with the team
The 50-year-old managed to avoid photographers as he arrived in Australia for the race, and it is not known whether his wife Geri will be at the Grand Prix on Sunday.
Horner, 50, has continued to maintain his innocence and his Red Bull team have made a dominant start to the season by securing consecutive one-two finishes, but the scandal has cast doubt on its future from driver Verstappen.
Thai businessman Chalerm Yoovidhya owns 51 percent of Red Bull and has reportedly sent a family member – dubbed the ‘Thai spy’ – to keep an eye on Horner and the wider company.
The drama could potentially tear the Red Bull operation apart, with Horner on one side and Max and his father, Jos, and Red Bull chief Helmut Marko on the other.
Jos Verstappen has called for Horner to be removed, while Max insisted he would leave the team if Marko left.
Marko was accused of being the source of the leaked messages and admitted he may not attend this weekend’s race if he faces disciplinary action. He has since insisted that he will not leave the team.
Horner has had a tumultuous few weeks after being accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a Red Bull employee, but looked relaxed in Melbourne on Thursday (pictured)
The Red Bull boss was spotted in the paddock chatting with former Haas boss Guenther Steiner
Horner appeared relaxed as he walked through Albert Park on Thursday, as rumors circulated that something of a truce had been agreed between the major parties at Red Bull ahead of this weekend’s race.
Horner’s wife Geri has continued to publicly support her husband, appearing at both the Bahrain and Saudi Grand Prix, but it is not known whether she will travel to Melbourne.
The team boss is not out of the woods yet, as his accuser has appealed the findings of Red Bull’s investigation.
She is reportedly unhappy that she was not shown the full sex text file before the internal investigation reached a verdict.
Meanwhile, recent reports have suggested that Horner’s highly rated right-hand man Adrian Newey is in advanced talks to join Ferrari.
Horner’s off-track drama remains the hottest talking point in Formula 1 (photo: the team boss enters the Albert Park paddock on Thursday)
An internal investigation has cleared the beleaguered husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, who very publicly showed his support at the Saudi Grand Prix (pictured)
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen (pictured in Melbourne on Thursday) has won the first two races of the new season
Chief Technical Officer Newey has played a crucial role in designing Red Bull cars that have brought so much success over the years, including winning the last three world championships with Verstappen.
Dubbed the ‘aero king’, he has helped the team become the dominant constructors on the track, with the current drivers’ and constructors’ championship leaders on course for a further two world titles this year.
According to BILNewey is said to be on his way to leaving the team, with Ferrari increasingly trying to lure the 65-year-old.
Newy has in the past expressed a desire to work with Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari before calling time on his career.
The opportunity now appears to have presented itself, with Hamilton set to join Ferrari in 2025 and Prancing Horse chief Fred Vasseur now rebuilding the operation.
Hamilton spoke about Newey prior to the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
“I think my move has shown that anything is possible and that the next six months are going to be very interesting,” he said.
‘As for Adrian, because he has worked within the team (Red Bull), I obviously know that Adrian gets all the credit for everyone’s work.’