GB News host Bev Turner has expressed her sympathy for Geri Halliwell as she has become “collateral damage” in the controversy surrounding her husband, Red Bull F1 team boss Christian Horner.
The team principal made his return to the Formula One paddock ahead of qualifying for Saturday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.
But he is in the spotlight after hundreds of WhatsApp messages appearing to be written by him to a female colleague were leaked.
On Wednesday, Horner was cleared to continue as Red Bull team principal following an internal probe into “inappropriate behaviour” by the F1 team’s parent company Red Bull GmbH. He has always denied the claims.
Bev Turner has expressed sympathy for Geri Halliwell
GETTY / GB NEWS
Commenting on the controversy, Bev said: “The collateral damage is poor Geri Halliwell.
“She is on the front pages of every paper. This is brutal.
“For the marriage, it’s very difficult.”
Sports reporter Paul Coyte says the “knives are out” for Horner and there may be cynical attempts from within Red Bull to oust the Principal.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Geri Halliwell left 'extremely humiliated' after Christian Horner 'text messages and photographs leaked'
- Geri Halliwell faces potential 'dilemma' as Christian Horner denies wrongdoing after bombshell 'leaks'
- Christian Horner pictured for first time since Red Bull boss' statement on 'leaked text messages and photos'
“There are power struggles within Red Bull. The man who owned Red Bull died in 2022 and he was Horner’s biggest ally”, he said.
“Now there are people coming in. There are rumours Jos Verstappen, who is the father of Max, doesn’t like him.
“It’s like a game of Cluedo when it comes to this, someone, in my opinion, does not want him to be running the team.”
Horner said in a statement: “I will not comment on anonymous speculation, but to reiterate I have always denied the allegations.
Christian Horner denies all the allegations against himGetty“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.”
On Friday, Horner, 50, was seen speaking to a Formula One official at the front of Red Bull Racing’s hospitality suite.
The investigation into Christian Horner has been concludedGettyAs Horner made his way to practice he added: “I am not going to comment on anonymous speculation from unknown sources.” When asked what comes next he replied: “We go racing.”
Despite Horner’s troubles, his team go into the race weekend as the hot favourites having enjoyed a dominant season in 2023.
Red Bull won all but one race, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz snatching victory in Singapore.
British hopefuls Lewis Hamilton, George Russell and Lando Norris have been deprived of success in recent years due to Red Bull’s domination, spearheaded by Horner.
Russell is the only British driver to have won a race since a change in regulations kicked in for the 2022 season.