The previously unseen reaction from Geri Halliwell to her husband Christian Horner being booed by fans in the wake of his sex texting scandal has been revealed.
Halliwell, 53, was a semi-regular fixture on race weekends alongside her husband, often appearing in the paddock at prominent races such as the British Grand Prix, before he was sacked as Red Bull chief during the last season.
In February 2024, the paddock was stunned by a leaked cache of suggestive messages purporting to be from Horner. Horner was later accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by a female member of staff, with an internal investigation led by KCs twice clearing him of wrongdoing. Halliwell supported him throughout.
Red Bull GmbH in Salzburg – the world champion team’s parent company – said in a statement: ‘The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.
‘The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.
‘The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and, therefore, we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards.’
Geri Halliwell’s previously unseen reaction to Christian Horner being booed after his sex text scandal engulfed Formula One
Spice Girl Halliwell stood by her husband (right) as he was subject to an internal investigation
The exact nature of the complaints remain unknown, but Horner was questioned by a KC for a full day at a secret location last year as the barrister gathered evidence that he wrote up in 150 pages for the Red Bull board’s determination. Horner always denied the accusations.
Still, at the F1 72 launch event at the O2 in February last year, fans opted to boo him vigorously as he took to the stage to carry out his speech.
He wore a grin, and said: ‘It’s a pleasure to be at the O2, anyway. I hope everyone is having a good night.’
Netflix cameras, meanwhile, captured the reaction of Halliwell. The Spice Girl could be seen watching on, also smiling, but seemingly concerned for her husband.
Horner told the documentary: ‘When you become a serial winner the crowd and the audience, they don’t wanna see that. In Formula One, there’s this element of pantomime, we’re now like the Kardashians on wheels.
‘But I’m way past even caring what other people think.
He later added: ‘You have to be the pantomime villain. We are different, and that’s what makes us who we are. This isn’t a popularity contest it’s Formula One and you’re judged on the result sheets at the end of the day.
‘It’s easier to be the hunter than the hunted and of course, for us, anything outside of total domination, is not good enough.’
Horner was sacked from his role at Red Bull amid a suspected power struggle at the Thai-Austrian constructor
After his speech, Horner was seen awkwardly looking for directions to his seat in the audience.
As Horner was booed, Ferrari duo Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc watched on, as did Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson.
Hamilton, stunned, could be seen backstage saying ‘s***.’ Lawson, meanwhile, said: ‘I think we are going to get a lot of boos,’ to which Verstappen replied: ‘I don’t give a f***.’
Horner was also present at Red Bull’s new car launch on February 15 – three days before the event at the O2 – and spoke for the first time since allegations came to light, claiming Geri had been ‘very supportive’ before insisting he would be present at the Bahrain curtain-raiser.
‘I have a very supportive family and a very supportive wife,’ he said. ‘My focus has been on the job and the season ahead.
‘There’s been a day job to be getting on with. I feel the support within the business and our partners, and within the industry. It is overwhelming.
‘There’s a process that’s ongoing at the moment. Some allegations have been made, which I fully deny and I have fully complied with that process and will continue to do so until it’s dealt with.
‘Everybody’s focused on one thing, which is the performance of that car to go out and defend both the world titles that we’ve worked so hard to achieve over the last couple of years.
A shocked Lewis Hamilton said ‘s***’ as he heard the reaction to Horner’s entrance at the O2
‘So the car is what everybody is invested in and I look forward to seeing it in action in Bahrain next week.’
Horner won 13 world championships in charge of the team since taking over as a 31-year-old in 2005. Mid-way through the 2025 season, however, amid a suspected power struggle at the Thai-Austrian constructor – and one year on from his sex texting scandal – he was sacked, and eventually left the team in July after receiving an £80million package.
