Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has lifted the lid on how his wife Geri Halliwell has been by his side throughout accusations made against him. The 50-year-old executive was cleared in a lengthy team investigation following allegations of inappropriate behaviour and has since resumed his position.
Horner was grilled in a tense press conference on Thursday after his accuser was suspended with pay by Red Bull, prompting the team chief to claim that it is “time to draw a line under” the controversy.
At the opening race of the season in Bahrain, Horner was publicly joined by his wife Geri as the pair held hands entering the paddock and later shared a kiss before Red Bull took a one-two finish through Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
Geri will not be in attendance for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday due to her busy schedule, but Horner has opened up on how she has supported him through the process and called for an end to “intrusion” on their family.
“I am fortunate I have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife,” Horner said. “It has been very trying, and very challenging. My wife has been hugely supportive, as has my family, but the intrusion on my family is now enough, and we need to move forward and focus on what we are here for. It is time now to focus on why we are here which is to go Formula 1 racing.”
Geri has clearly been a positive force for Horner throughout what he described as a “very trying period” as the F1 boss doubled down on his call to move the spotlight off of himself and their family.
“I’m married and have three children,” he later added. “When that intrusion includes your children and the scrutiny that is placed on my marriage, I’m very fortunate that I have a beautiful family and a very supportive wife. And I’m the only one that has been named in this.
“It’s very challenging, because when there’s children involved, when there’s families, parents involved, it’s not pretty. It is time now to focus on why we are here, which is to go Formula One racing.”
Horner has remained in his role as team chief despite calls from Verstappen’s father Jos for him to be sacked, causing tension behind the scenes despite a strong start to their season on the grid in Bahrain in front of Geri.
Perez has pledged his unwavering support for the team principal but Verstappen has instead backed his dad amid speculation that he could leave Red Bull as soon as this season, with the likes of Mercedes lurking.
