Geri Halliwell being paraded in the F1 paddock by her under-fire husband Christian Horner was ‘a farce and absolute nonsense’, says outspoken former driver and pundit Christijan Albers
Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell’s show of unity during the Bahrain Grand Prix has been labeled a ‘farce’ by a former Formula 1 driver.
Halliwell was filmed and photographed holding hands with Horner on Saturday on his way to the grid at the Bahrain International Circuit, amid the Red Bull chief’s ongoing leaked text message scandal.
A series of WhatsApp messages and photos that Horner allegedly sent to a female employee were leaked a day after the 50-year-old was cleared by Red Bull of ‘coercive behavior towards a female colleague’ ahead of the 2024 season.
Halliwell and Horner were later photographed sharing a kiss in the paddock less than an hour before the lights went out in Bahrain.
Horner appeared to lean in to kiss his wife in full view of the cameras as the world watched their reaction to the controversy that has rocked Formula 1.
Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell’s show of unity in Bahrain is labeled a ‘farce’
The ex-Spice Girl arrived hand in hand with the Red Bull team boss ahead of the Grand Prix
Former F1 driver Christian Albers, pictured in 2014, has blown up the show of unity between the couple after a series of unwanted headlines
After they kissed, Halliwell appeared to look directly at the photographers.
Christijan Albers, who raced in Formula 1 between 2005 and 2007, has crushed the public show of unity between the couple.
Albers, speaking in the Dutch newspaper The F1 podcast from De Telegraafclaimed the display was a ‘farce’ and accused Horner of an ‘absolute nonsense’ PR move.
“What kind of farce is that?”, said Albers, who now works as an F1 analyst for Dutch television.
‘It is always very easy to say something about that, for me too. It’s easy to undermine someone.
‘Only, let’s be honest, that PR man, or what he himself came up with to walk into the paddock with Geri, is of course absolute nonsense.
“That’s just a farce, and I would never have done that myself.”
Albers, who was briefly team boss at former F1 team Caterham in 2014, claimed Horner’s ongoing scandal is a ‘difficult story’.
Horner, the controversial Red Bull director, has been accused of an ‘absolute nonsense’ PR action
The photo shows Halliwell and Horner entering Red Bull’s base
The couple appeared to have shown a united front after days of unwanted headlines
Halliwell then appeared to look directly at the photographers while in full view of the cameras
“It’s quite a difficult story,” says Albers. ‘I get that from everything I have forwarded, from all the journalists who have received material.
“It’s difficult to get involved with that, because you never know exactly what happened.”
Horner was acquitted after Red Bull launched an internal investigation into the allegations on February 5.
The flirtatious messages allegedly exchanged between Horner and the female complainant were leaked to 149 F1 figures while Halliwell was on a plane to see her husband at the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Halliwell, who married the Red Bull team boss in 2015, reportedly ‘had a meltdown’ when she landed in the Gulf state on a private jet and discovered the bombshell messages plastered all over social media.
Throughout the investigation and since the messages were leaked, Horner has denied any wrongdoing.
Horner previously said: “I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible woman, an incredible team and everyone within that team.
Horner, who has denied the allegations, said he had the support of an incredible family and wife
‘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.”
Halliwell’s confirmed attendance at the Bahrain Grand Prix indicated a public show of solidarity with Horner.
The former Spice Girl, 51, is said to have ‘read her husband the riot act’ before making a show of unity, with insiders saying the pop star wants the female employee in question ‘out of the picture’.
Halliwell is not expected to attend the Grand Prix in the Saudi capital Jeddah this weekend.
Horner – who earns £8million a year – is determined to remain in his position for the entire Formula 1 season.
Further pressure was put on the Red Bull chief last week after he was embroiled in a furious mystery row with Verstappen’s father, Jos.
Horner is determined that he will remain in his position for the entire Formula 1 season
It came after Mail Sport exclusively reported that Verstappen Snr believes the champion constructor will ‘explode’ if Horner does not walk away from his role.
He also reportedly told friends that Verstappen Jr. could leave the team if Horner stays at Red Bull.
On Monday, new allegations were published in a 19-page investigation in BusinessF1 Magazine naming Horner’s accuser, although sources close to the Red Bull chief deny these claims and insist they are ‘full of inaccuracies’.