Christian Horner spotted in animated exchange with Jos Verstappen at the Bahrain Grand Prix… after the father of triple world champion Max said Red Bull would ‘EXPLODE’ if Geri Halliwell’s husband remains as team principal

Christian Horner had an animated conversation with Max Verstappen’s father, Jos, during the weekend of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

It comes after the ex-Formula 1 driver insisted Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner remains as team boss.

Horner was acquitted last Wednesday of ‘coercive behavior’ towards a female colleague following an investigation into the Red Bull team boss, who is also the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell.

However, screenshots of a text message conversation between 50-year-old Horner and the employee who made the accusations were leaked via an anonymous email. The email was sent to leading F1 figures and contained 79 documents with some messages of a sexual nature.

Pressure continues to mount on the embattled team boss’s future at this weekend’s race in Saudi Arabia, and he had an animated chat with the father of Red Bull’s star driver – after Mail Sport reported they had a blazing row following the qualifying on Friday night.

Jos (right) told Mail Sport that Red Bull would ‘explode’ if Horner retained his team lead role

Horner, the husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, is facing further heat after screenshots of a text conversation between the 50-year-old and the employee who made allegations of ‘coercive behavior’ against him were leaked via an anonymous email

Footage captured by Heaven Italyshows the pair deep in conversation in the Red Bull camper, with Horner pointing outside and waving his hand around.

Verstappen waves his hand briefly, but spends most of the conversation with his hands in his jacket pockets.

ESPN reported this Jos will not be present at the Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia this weekend in response to comments he made about Horner.

Mail Sport revealed on Saturday how Jos, Michael Schumacher’s former teammate, got into a blazing row in Horner’s paddock office after qualifying on Friday evening.

Verstappen, 51, left the fiery meeting before returning to the room and reluctantly shaking hands.

According to his relations, Horner believes that Verstappen Snr has organized a campaign to oust him in recent weeks, with the implication that the Dutchman even had a hand in the email leak.

“There is tension here as he (Horner) stays in position,” Jos told Mail Sport exclusively.

‘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.’

Both Verstappen and Horner waved their arms during their conversation behind closed doors

Verstappen (right) will reportedly not attend the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix due to his comments about Horner

Horner was seen with his wife Halliwell as they watched the podium celebrations after Red Bull secured a 1-2 victory led by Max Verstappen at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix

Horner and his wife Geri (left) put on a public display of unity despite his alleged texting scandal

Horner kissed his wife in full view of the assembled cameras before heading to the grid

The Telegraphreported that Verstappen’s father has told friends that his son will leave Red Bull if he has to.

Verstappen Snr spoke to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff during the weekend of the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Mercedes has an empty seat for the 2025 season, although Verstappen has a contract with Red Bull until 2028 and currently drives for the dominant team in Formula 1.

Jos Verstappen denies the claims and says: ‘That would make no sense. Why would I do that if Max is doing so well here?’

Three-time world champion Max already looks on course for a fourth title in a row after dominating the Bahrain Grand Prix in a Red Bull 1-2 driven by teammate Sergio Perez.

While the team’s performance on the track has given Horner something to smile about, there is still a lot to do off the track.

Despite the controversy, Horner is confident he will remain in the lead throughout the season

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has reportedly asked Max Verstappen to publicly back Horner – although a source said the Dutchman was not convinced by the advice

Halliwell was on a flight to see her husband ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix when the reports were leaked. She shared a kiss with Horner in full view of the cameras, as a show of solidarity on race day.

The team boss also stood next to his wife of almost nine years as they watched the podium celebrations on Saturday.

Halliwell does holding ‘crisis discussions’ from Horner claimed to have leaked text messages and did not want to meet her husband in Bahrain until his family convinced her to do so, sources claimed.

Although there is unity between him and his wife, Horner is confronted with pressure from other sides.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem broke his silence against the FIA ​​on Friday Financial times that the controversy surrounding Horner is ‘harmful to the sportt… this is harmful on a human level‘.

Mail Sport previously reported that Ben Sulayem begged Horner’s star driver Verstappen publicly the Red Bull team boss again in a conversation after qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday.

The three-time world champion, who took pole and went on to win the race in Bahrain, was seen chatting with motorsport’s top figure at the parc ferme. Both men hid what they were saying behind their hands.

But according to an observer close by, Ben Sulayem told Verstappen: “You have to publicly support Christian.”

Another source says that Verstappen was not completely convinced of the advice. The Dutchman was ambiguous when asked about Horner at the post-match press conference.

After the win, Horner said: “I’m not going to comment on any person’s motives for doing this.”

Asked if he would be at next weekend’s race and the entire season in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he said: ‘Absolutely. I have always been confident that I will be here.”

He added: “I’m not going to comment on what motives any person has. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing and winning races.”

Asked if he is confident he will remain in his position this season, he replied: ‘Absolutely 100 percent.

‘There was a lengthy internal process that was completed by an independent QC. The complaint that was filed was dismissed. The end of. Continue. I have always had complete confidence that I will be here.”