Why Geri wasn’t ‘blindly standing by’ Christian Horner as pal reveals how she REALLY dealt with his F1 text scandal
DRIVING along happily through the idyllic Oxfordshire countryside in their 4x4 Geri Horner turns to hubby Christian and says: “You never know what life’s going to bring.”
The former Spice Girl couldn’t have been more prophetic.
The ironic moment – caught on camera for Netflix’s Drive to Survive show last year – reveals how the couple were blissfully unaware that the coming Formula 1 season would threaten to turn their whole lives upside down.
Soon after the clip was filmed, Horner, 51, was accused of alleged “coercive behaviour” towards an anonymous employee, sparking two independent investigations over the following year, which ultimately cleared him.
But just a day after the allegations were first chucked out, a tranche of text messages and photographs were sent from an anonymous email to dozens of journalists and key F1 figures.
Some of the messages were allegedly of a sexual nature – including requests for selfies - and the bombshell leak, which had been timed to coincide with the first race of the season last March, soon became the talk of the circuit.
"It was a shock to both of them when the allegations blew up - they never saw it coming,” one friend told The Sun.
Red Bull star driver Max Verstappen’s dad Jos called for Horner's head saying the team would "explode" if he stayed on as the allegations threatened to derail both his job and his marriage.
“There is tension here while he remains in position, Verstappen Snr said back in March
"The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode."
The 51-year-old known as "Jos the Boss" during his racing days was even forced to deny being the source of the leak after he and Christian reportedly had a blazing row in Horner's paddock office.
Meanwhile there were reports Geri was distraught and in "floods of tears” after reading the messages and that the fairytale couple were heading for divorce.
But despite the furore, loyal Geri flew to Bahrain to be at her husband’s side and was pictured hand in hand with him at the paddock.
Dressed in her signature all-white outfit, she posed at the podium ceremony, all smiles as they celebrated a 1-2 victory for Verstappen and fellow Red Bell driver Sergio Perez.
The couple even shared a kiss in full view of the cameras just before lights out at the track.
It was a show of unity and defiance by the pair – although some criticised Horner for parading Geri around the paddock so shortly after the news broke.
One outspoken F1 pundit, former driver Christijan Albers, called the move "a farce and an absolute nonsense".
A body language expert told The Sun at the time Geri appeared "awkward" and as if she was on a "denial mission" as she posed for cameras alongside her hubby.
Others wondered how she could back her man so soon after that shock leak.
But while some might have thought Geri was burying her head in the sand and standing by her man friends say she is absolutely no pushover and had lots of questions for Christian, who was cleared once again of wrongdoing in August after an appeal to the original findings was dismissed.
'Secret to their marriage'
“People think Geri was just blindly standing by her man through the whole thing but it's not like that at all,” a friend said.
“She's been in the spotlight for the majority of her life, so she knows what it’s like to be at the top of your game and the pressures that brings, and it takes a lot to faze her. She is a strong and intelligent woman.
“When the allegations first came out, she of course had questions.
“They talked through it and since then he has been cleared twice following two independent investigations by two separate KCs (King's Counsels).
“Good communication is one of the secrets to their marriage.
"It was a shock to both of them when the allegations blew up - they never saw it coming and a lot of people were spreading hurtful rumours, but it was all untrue, they are in a really good place right now.”
When Horner was cleared of wrongdoing back in August, he said he was “relieved” to put the whole saga behind him.
Behind the scenes
But the new Netflix show captures some of his candid behind-the-scenes reaction to his the texting allegations.
The excruciating moment he first faces the world's media and other team bosses after the texts had been leaked is caught on camera on the new show.
McLaren boss Zak Brown addresses a press conference with the cutting remark: "These are not the type of headlines Formula 1 wants or needs."
Cameras cut to defiant Christian walking through the corridors saying "You find out who your friends are" before quipping: "Zak is a p***k.";
Later, after the second practice session at Bahrain, cameras catch the exact moment the text bombshell drops - with phone alerts pinging and Horner holding his head in his hands in disbelief.
It sends the world of Formula 1 into a frenzy.
However, despite the controversy off the track, Horner has the last laugh as Red Bull wins the Bahrain Grand Prix in dramatic scenes.
"That’s the best way to f*** all of them. Shut the f*** up," he's filmed saying to another Red Bull Racing team member.
As Red Bull continues to dominate the season Horner says: "In Formula 1 there's winners and w*****s and you don't want to be in the "w****r category".
Rivals plot
In other parts of the show, he says that the motive behind the leaks was obvious – his rivals wanted him ousted.
"The higher you rise, the sharper the knives,” he says.
"I've reached the top of my game and I never thought in a million years I'd have a challenge like this in my career.
"It was obvious that the end goal was for me to leave Red Bull.
"It's a crucial time of year, in a job that I do, you're the front face of the organisation.
"You can either hide away or you can get out there and face it."
It was a dramatic year from hell for the couple - although it ended on a high with Horner picking up a CBE from Prince Charles for his services to motor sports.
Horner also reportedly built bridges with Verstoppen's dad.
Happy families
And the couple put on a loved up display at the 2024 FIA awards in December in Kigali, Rwanda.
And while the new season of Drive to Survive might contain some uncomfortable memories for the pair, the insider said they are not interested in reliving the past at all and are focused firmly on the future and their blended family which includes Bluebell, 18, Olivia, 11 and Monty, eight.
Their marriage has weathered the storm – and they and the F1 team are “stronger than ever”.
“Geri and Christian just want to put this whole episode behind them,” the pal said.
"Their marriage is stronger than ever, they just got back from a trip to the States together and had a great time.
"Their priority is their family and they are fiercely protective over their kids and the time that they have to be a family despite their busy schedules.
"The [Red Bull] team are stronger than ever too - everything is good.
"They are not fazed at all about the new Netflix show and are just focused on the future.
"Yes it was a difficult time for them but they are both very resilient."
A rep for Red Bull declined to comment.
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