Geri Halliwell has reportedly been left 'extremely humiliated' after text messages alleging to have been sent by her husband Christian Horner were 'leaked'.
Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing by Red Bull on Wednesday following an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour but the saga has now taken a fresh twist.
The 50-year-old team principal has always denied the allegations from a female colleague and was pleased with the outcome reached on Wednesday afternoon.
However, a file containing text messages and photographs purporting to be the alleged evidence in the investigation was 'leaked' by an anonymous account to hundreds of journalists on Thursday.
Geri Halliwell is said to be 'extremely humiliated' after Christian Horner messages were reportedly 'leaked'
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The file has reportedly also been sent to other F1 team principals as well as Liberty Media and Stefano Domenicali.
Horner has since released a statement, once again denying the allegations but refusing to comment on the anonymous leak.
The statement read: "I won't comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate, I have always denied the allegations.
"I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully cooperated with it every step of the way.
"It was a thorough and fair investigation conducted by an independent specialist barrister and it has concluded, dismissing the complaint made. I remain fully focused on the start of the season."
However, the Daily Mail claims that the leak has left Horner's wife Halliwell 'extremely humiliated'.
A friend said that the former Spice Girl thought the issue had 'gone away' after Wednesday's outcome.
But now the pal is concerned for Halliwell, telling the Mail: "Geri has been living in this happy, happy bubble for so many years now, she thought she had her prince and her knight in shining armour but now this.
"She thought that it had all gone away, she was delighted and over the moon when she learned Christian had been cleared.
"Geri was pilloried when she got together with Christian because he had just had another baby with another woman but she has worked hard to rid that image of herself and Christian, and in particular that she is a homewrecker.
"Now it has all come crashing down. The tears stopped when the judgment came in on Wednesday, now they absolutely will have started again.
"This will destroy her. All along Christian promised there was nothing in it."
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Geri Halliwell thought the saga surrounding her husband Christian Horner was over on Wednesday
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A friend also said: "All along Christian promised there was nothing in it."
The saga has created a huge cloud over F1 ahead of the new season starting in Bahrain this weekend.
Red Bull's statement on Wednesday said the investigation into Horner had been 'fair, rigorous and impartial'.
It read: "The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.
Christian Horner has released a statement following the alleged leak of messages and photographs
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"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."
But the 'leak' has now created more speculation ahead of the first Grand Prix of 2024, which starts in Bahrain at 4pm on Saturday.
