Christian Horner has been pictured in Saudi Arabia without his wife Geri Halliwell ahead of the second Formula One Grand Prix of the season, as the embattled Red Bull team principal fights for his future.
The Red Bull team principal was spotted deep in talks with a colleague in Saudi Arabia’s capital city Jeddah, as he faces growing pressure over his position.
Horner has been publicly criticised by star driver Max Verstappen’s dad Jos, as the furore over his texting scandal continues.
The 50-year-old’s position dominated the opening weekend of the season in Bahrain, despite Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez delivering a one-two finish for Red Bull.
The Red Bull chief was cleared of allegations of ‘coercive behaviour’ towards a female colleague last Wednesday, following an internal investigation, after news of the accusations broke on February 5.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was seen in Jeddah ahead of the Saudi Grand Prix
The beleaguered Red Bull boss has been fighting for his job this month amid a texting scandal
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However, less than 24 hours later, an anonymously emailed leak of 79 documents appearing to show Horner sending sexually suggestive messages to the female employee at the centre of the investigation circulated among the sport’s key figures, adding further fuel to the fire.
Horner’s arrival in Saudi Arabia comes after Ralf Schumacher claimed one of Horner or star driver Max Verstappen must leave Red Bull in the wake of the scandal.
‘If Christian Horner holds on to his seat with all his might,’ Schumacher, the brother of F1 legend Michael told Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung.
‘He will not only damage Red Bull, he will also ensure that Max Verstappen leaves the team.’
Schumacher’s comments came after the Red Bull chief last week after he engaged in a furious mystery row with Verstappen’s father, Jos.
It came after Mail Sport reported exclusively that Verstappen Snr believes that the champion constructor will ‘explode’ if Horner does not walk away from his role, while he also reportedly told friends that Verstappen Jnr could leave the team if Horner remains at Red Bull.
He told Mail Sport that the team would ‘explode’ if Horner did not quit and accused him of ‘playing the victim when he is the problem’.
Horner will be boosted by the absence of Verstappen Snr this weekend, with the Dutchman competing in a rally in Belgium instead.
The 50-year-old had also held ‘peace talks’ with Verstappen’s manager, Raymond Vermeulen in Dubai, which were believed to have gone smoothly, although neither Max nor Jos were present.
Horner and Halliwell put on a show of unity in Bahrain last week at the season’s opening race
Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner arrive together at Grand Prix
Horner – wife of former spice girl Geri Halliwell – found out last Wednesday afternoon he had been cleared and that he would keep his £8million-a-year job leading Red Bull’s F1 team
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Triple world champion Verstappen has issued a defence of his father’s comments ahead of Saturday’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
‘I have not asked him that but my dad, from how I know him from go-karting, is very outspoken, and he is not a liar, that is for sure. That is what I can say about things,’ Verstappen said.
‘My dad and I are very close. We call every day. At the other end, I am not the guy who likes to speak a lot about certain stuff and I just want to focus on the driving. If there are issues, we try to resolve it within the team.’
Horner is in Jeddah without his Spice Girl wife Geri, who will be absent for the second Grand Prix of the season.
Halliwell had put on a public display of support for her husband last weekend at the season opener in Bahrain.
Halliwell, 51, was said to have ‘read her husband the riot act’ before displaying a show of unity, with insiders saying that the pop star wants the female employee in question ‘out of the picture’.
Before the race got underway, Horner had slipped out of the back of Red Bull’s hospitality suite through a gate to meet Halliwell as she arrived at the main entrance of the paddock.
They then held hands as they walked through the paddock to Red Bull’s hospitality suite. During the short walk they were mobbed by photographers and TV crews.
Max Verstappen has issued a defence of his father’s comments about Horner’s future
Horner – who earns £8million a year – has been resolute that he will remain in his position for the entire Formula One season.
‘I am not going to comment on the motives whatever person may have for doing this,’ he said last week.
‘Absolutely (I’ll be in Saudi Arabia next week and in my role for the rest of the season). I’ve always been confident I’ll be here.
‘It’s not been pleasant with the unwanted attention. My focus is very much with what’s on the track.
‘My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and going racing. I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife and an incredible team.’
On Monday, fresh allegations were published in a bombshell 19-page investigation in BusinessF1 Magazine that named Horner’s accuser, although sources close to the Red Bull chief deny these claims, insisting they are ‘full of inaccuracies’.
Horner was involved in a row with Jos Verstappen, who called on the 50-year-old to resign
The men were seen in a heated discussion after Friday’s qualifying for the Bahrain Grand Prix
It was also revealed that Verstappen has an astonishing break clause in his contract that allows him to walk out of Red Bull if his ally Dr Helmut Marko leaves the team.
Marko, an 80-year-old Austrian, is the company’s motorsport adviser. Triple world champion Verstappen fought for him when there moves afoot to shuffle him out of the door last year – manoeuvrings for which Horner was held responsible. It is understood there is still a wedge between the two sides dating back to this dispute.
Horner will be hoping to keep attention on the track this weekend, with practice at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit beginning today.
Qualifying is scheduled to take place on Friday, with Red Bull seeking a third-successive Saudi Arabian Grand Prix success on Saturday.