Spice Girl Geri Halliwell’s F1 boss husband 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.
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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 female 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 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 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.
This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.
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