Photo shows huge twist in Christian Horner Formula 1 ‘sext’ scandal

A public kiss has turned the Formula 1 “sext” scandal on its head with Geri Halliwell making a defining statement.

Christian Horner and Geri Horner walk in the Paddock holding hands. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images.

Geri Halliwell has been seen standing by her husband Christian Horner in Bahrain as the Red Bull Racing chief said he has “support” off the track.

The Spice Girl, 51, landed in Bahrain on Friday night for the first race of the Formula 1 season, despite the couple being rocked by his Red Bull sext scandal.

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Despite the storm surrounding her marriage with scandal-hit Horner, Geri showed up at the Bahrain Grand Prix to watch her husband mastermind a dominant victory for world champion Max Verstappen.

They were seen before the race sharing an intimate kiss and then standing together afterwards as they watched the drivers take to the podium holding hands and hugging, The Sun reports.

Pictures show the pop icon smiling as Horner holds her tight in an awkward looking embrace after the Red Bull chief achieved an impressive one-two victory with his team.

Before they walked through the busy F1 paddock holding hands as Horner did an interview.

Christian Horner and Geri Horner walk in the Paddock holding hands. Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images.

They stood among the Red Bull Racing celebrations as an elated Horner faced the media over the teams “harmony” off track.

In a quick interview after the race, an elated Horner said: “We’re a very strong team, we’ve got tremendous support.

“You don’t achieve this type of support by not being supported.”

After being quizzed on what his future could look like after weeks of investigations and allegations, Horner made it clear he was set to remain at Red Bull.

A reporter asked if he was feeling confident about staying as the team’s principle for the coming season.

To which he replied: “Yes absolutely. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

The troubled couple stood next to a big Red Bull shareholder in Chalerm Yoovidhya and his wife as they celebrated the race result.

Yoovidhya is a Thai billionaire who co-owns the Red Bull co-operation after his father created the iconic energy drink.

Geri and Christian were first pictured earlier in the day before the season opener that saw utter Red Bull dominance with a routine Max Verstappen win.

Mobbed by photographers, the pair climbed the steps to the hospitality unit.

The couple made a definitive statement. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

Geri and Horner were said to stay inside for a few minutes before speaking with guests outside on the patio area.

The couple then went back inside and were seen sitting together.

Pictures also showed the husband and wife sharing an intimate kiss moments before the opening race of the season.

The Spice Girl went for her signature white outfit, which she is known for wearing at F1 races.

After the shocking sexting claims, Geri was said to have “felt like a fool” for trusting her “prince charming” husband after he played down the messages.

The singer is now facing “the biggest decision of her life” as she is deciding what the next move in her marriage with Horner will be, her friends said.

She will most likely bunker down in the couple’s Cotswolds country home and make her decision behind closed doors, the Daily Mail reported.

Friends of the star reportedly stated it would “break her heart” to end things with Christian as she sees him as the man she’s waited for since she was a little girl.

An insider said: “She acts on impulse a lot. She has a temper on her, that’s for sure, and doesn’t Christian know it.

“But the question now that her inner circle is asking is whether Christian will be sent to the dog house for a few days or whether this is it for good.

A source close to the pop star - who was on a Bahrain-bound private jet when the messages emerged - told The Sun Horner tried to play down the scandal.

Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner

They said: “Geri is heartbroken and feels utterly humiliated. She trusted him when he tried to play down the scandal.

“He always told her he’d done nothing wrong. This will really hurt Geri, who has put everything into their marriage.”

“She worked hard for all of this, she jumped through hoops to get him, so will she dump him?”

It is understood Geri went “into meltdown” when she landed in Bahrain and discovered Horner’s sext leak.

Her concerned pals added she seemed “fragile” when they saw her a few weeks ago.

Earlier today, a smiling Christian Horner appeared to have shrugged off the latest scandal as he arrived alone at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

The Red Bull Racing chief was focused and ready to take on the 2024 Formula One season - one his team are expected to win.

But soon after, star driver Verstappen said the team principal is “probably a little bit distracted” as he faces more questions over his sext probe, Sky News reported.

He said: “It’s not our business.

“When I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss, so absolutely from the performance side of things, you can’t even question that.

“So that’s what I am also dealing with. I speak to Christian a lot, and also of course throughout the weekend here he is fully committed to the team.

Verstappen added: “He’s also here for the performance, of course probably a little bit distracted, but like I said before, we just focus on the performance things and that’s how we all work together.”

Horner said he “won’t comment on anonymous speculation” after material reported to have been part of Red Bull’s recent inquiry into him was leaked.

The racing chief previously refused to comment on the leaked WhatsApp sexts, which were sent anonymously to F1 bosses and media outlets on Thursday.

— This story originally appeared on thesun.co.uk and has been republished with permission