Previously unseen footage has revealed Geri Halliwell's reaction to her husband Christian Horner being booed by fans in the wake of his sex texting scandal that engulfed Formula One. Halliwell, 53, was a semi-regular fixture on race weekends alongside Horner before his eventual dismissal from Red Bull Racing.
The Scandal That Rocked Formula One
In February 2024, the Formula One paddock was stunned by a leaked cache of suggestive messages purportedly sent by Christian Horner. The Red Bull team principal was subsequently accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by a female staff member. An internal investigation led by King's Counsel barristers twice cleared Horner of wrongdoing, with Halliwell standing firmly by her husband throughout the entire ordeal.
Red Bull GmbH, the parent company based in Salzburg, issued a formal statement confirming: 'The independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete, and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed. The complainant has a right of appeal. Red Bull is confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial.'
The Investigation Process
The exact nature of the complaints remains confidential, but Horner was questioned by a KC for an entire day at a secret location last year. The barrister compiled evidence into a comprehensive 150-page report for the Red Bull board's determination. Despite Horner consistently denying all accusations, the scandal continued to shadow his career.
The Booing Incident at the O2 Arena
At the F1 72 launch event at London's O2 Arena in February last year, fans opted to boo Horner vigorously as he took to the stage to deliver his speech. Wearing a strained grin, Horner addressed the crowd saying: 'It's a pleasure to be at the O2, anyway. I hope everyone is having a good night.'
Netflix cameras, filming for their Formula One documentary series, captured Halliwell's reaction to the hostile reception. The former Spice Girl could be seen watching on with a smile that betrayed clear concern for her husband's predicament.
Horner's Perspective on the Controversy
In documentary footage, Horner reflected on the situation: 'When you become a serial winner the crowd and the audience, they don't wanna see that. In Formula One, there's this element of pantomime, we're now like the Kardashians on wheels. But I'm way past even caring what other people think.'
He later elaborated: 'You have to be the pantomime villain. We are different, and that's what makes us who we are. This isn't a popularity contest it's Formula One and you're judged on the result sheets at the end of the day. It's easier to be the hunter than the hunted and of course, for us, anything outside of total domination, is not good enough.'
Reactions from the Formula One Community
As Horner was booed, Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc watched the unfolding scene, alongside Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. Backstage, a stunned Hamilton was captured saying 's***' in reaction to the hostile atmosphere.
Lawson commented to Verstappen: 'I think we are going to get a lot of boos,' to which the reigning world champion bluntly replied: 'I don't give a f***.' After his speech, Horner was seen awkwardly looking for directions to his seat in the audience, visibly affected by the reception.
Horner's Final Public Appearances with Red Bull
Horner was present at Red Bull's new car launch on February 15 - just three days before the O2 event - where he spoke publicly for the first time since allegations surfaced. He claimed Geri had been 'very supportive' before insisting he would attend the Bahrain season opener.
'I have a very supportive family and a very supportive wife,' Horner stated. 'My focus has been on the job and the season ahead. There's been a day job to be getting on with. I feel the support within the business and our partners, and within the industry. It is overwhelming.'
He continued: 'There's a process that's ongoing at the moment. Some allegations have been made, which I fully deny and I have fully complied with that process and will continue to do so until it's dealt with. Everybody's focused on one thing, which is the performance of that car to go out and defend both the world titles that we've worked so hard to achieve over the last couple of years.'
The End of an Era at Red Bull Racing
Christian Horner won an impressive 13 world championships during his tenure as Red Bull team principal since taking over as a 31-year-old in 2005. However, midway through the 2025 season, amid a suspected power struggle at the Thai-Austrian constructor and exactly one year after his sex texting scandal emerged, Horner was sacked from his position.
He eventually left the team in July after receiving an £80 million exit package, marking the dramatic conclusion to a two-decade career that ended amidst controversy and public scrutiny. The Netflix documentary footage provides the first glimpse into how his wife Geri Halliwell reacted to one of the most challenging public moments of their marriage.
