Geri Halliwell performs U-turn on Saudi Grand Prix as Christian Horner accuser 'suspended by Red Bull'

Geri Halliwell performs U-turn on Saudi Grand Prix as Christian Horner accuser 'suspended by Red Bull'

WATCH NOW: Bev Turner speaks out on Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell ahead of Saudi Arabia Grand Prix

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 07/03/2024

- 13:39

The Spice Girls icon has been expected to miss Saturday's race in the Middle East

Geri Halliwell is now set to attend the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix at a time when Christian Horner's accuser has been suspended, according to reports.

The Spice Girls icon stood by Horner's side last week as Red Bull dominated the Bahrain Grand Prix.


Max Verstappen cruised to glory, with team-mate Sergio Perez finishing second.

Earlier on Thursday it emerged that Horner's accuser had been suspended by Red Bull.

Geri Halliwell Christian Horner

Geri Halliwell is set to attend the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix alongside husband Christian Horner this weekend

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It is currently unclear why she has been temporarily stood down from her position, having been working with the team prior to last weekend's race.

Red Bull have refused to comment, with a spokesperson for the company saying: “The company cannot comment on this internal matter."

Geri had been due to miss this weekend's Grand Prix because of her busy schedule.

Yet The Telegraph say the Spice Girls icon WILL be in attendance for the event in Jeddah.

Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff, as well as chief executive Franz Watzlawick, will also be in the stands to watch the action unfold.

Horner is set to face the media later today as the Saudi Grand Prix edges closer.

He is likely to be quizzed on comments made by Verstappen's father, Jos, who has called on the 50-year-old to leave his post as team principal.

The Dutchman said: “The team is in danger of being torn apart.

“It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode.

"He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.”

Verstappen himself was quizzed on the comments made by his father while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.

The Red Bull chief defended his father by saying: “My dad, from how I know him in go-karting, is very outspoken and he is not a liar, that is for sure.

“My dad and I are very close. We call every day.”

There is currently uncertainty over Verstappen's long-term future with Red Bull.

Talk of a move to Mercedes has gathered momentum, with Lewis Hamilton off to Ferrari next year.

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Christian Horner Geri Halliwell

Christian Horner was recently supported by wife Geri Halliwell at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix last weekend

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Yet Verstappen insists he's solely focused on driving right now rather than rumours of a potential exit.

“Things must go really crazy, I guess, but that’s not the target for everyone," he said.

“I’m just focusing on the driving bit and I think that is also the most important for the team right now.

“That’s also why we came here and that’s our main target and what we want to focus on you know, to not have this stuff going on race after race because that is not good for the team.”

When quizzed further, however, Verstappen refused to rule out a move.

Christian Horner

Christian Horner is currently in Saudi Arabia with the Red Bull chief set to face the media later today

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“The thing is nobody would have ever seen that Lewis [Hamilton] would move to Ferrari," he said.

“That’s not related to F1, it’s just general life.

"You never know what happens around you or what might influence you. You can never say 100 per cent what is going to be.

“But I also don’t think about it too much - I’m very relaxed.

"I’m very happy with the team, the performance is there, there is no reason to leave.”

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