SPICE Girl Geri Halliwell’s F1 boss hubby is being investigated over claims of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a female colleague.
Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner, 50, is the focus of a probe being run by an independent lawyer appointed to examine her allegations.
Horner, who runs the all-conquering team of world champion Max Verstappen, said: “I completely deny these claims.”
News of the allegations broke yesterday as the team boss was locked in preparations for Red Bull’s defence of their championship titles.
Given Horner’s high-ranking position, the woman staffer is understood to have complained to the team’s parent company at Red Bull in Austria.
Staff at the team’s UK base, in Milton Keynes, Bucks, claimed to have no knowledge of the allegations when approached yesterday.
Wife Geri, 51, was standing by him last night, telling pals she does not believe gossip that has been swirling for days.
A source close to the Ginger Spice star said: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids.
“She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
Red Bull Racing’s Austria-based parent company said yesterday: “After being made aware of certain recent allegations, the company launched an independent investigation.
“This process, which is already under way, is being carried out by an external specialist barrister.
“The company takes these matters extremely seriously and the investigation will be completed as soon as practically possible.
“It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”
F1 sources said the allegations against Horner could jeopardise his position at the helm of the Red Bull team.
He was said to be locked in an F1 Commission meeting all day yesterday and aides stressed he would not be making any further comment.
A Red Bull Racing source said: “Nothing further is being added to ensure the integrity of the investigation is respected.
“Christian has issued a denial and we’re hoping for a swift and speedy resolution.”
Former racing driver Horner married Geri at a church wedding in Woburn, Beds, in 2015 after a year-long engagement.
He has a seven-year-old son with Geri and a daughter from a previous relationship.
Geri also has a 17-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
Since Leamington Spa-born Horner took over as team principal in 2005, Red Bull has won seven Formula 1 world drivers’ championships and six world constructors’ titles.
Last season, Red Bull won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, with 26-year-old Verstappen the runaway winner of the drivers’ crown.
F1 sources claimed the investigation had been launched amid a power struggle at the F1 team following the death of Red Bull co-founder and Horner ally Dietrich Mateschitz.
CHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row
