The answer to those questions is key to what another powerful figure decides to do next – Horner’s wife of 10 years, Geri Halliwell, aka Ginger Spice. Halliwell, 52, has already endured the mortifying experience of standing by her man at the height of his scandal: in March 2024, at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Halliwell pasted on a rictus grin, and, in the glare of the cameras, she and her husband held hands and shared a kiss. Her newfound dedication to all-white clothing fit the occasion perfectly, the colour seeming to denote innocence and serenity amid the firestorm.
“It was definitely a performance,” says publicist Mark Borkowski. But the fact that Halliwell was willing to endure such humiliation and put on a show is telling, he thinks. “I’m pretty sure she’ll stick with him. She’s very resourceful and strong – she’s been through the ups and downs of toxic fame, so she knows how to handle it. Someone who hasn’t had that experience might struggle.”
An insider who has met the couple says: “There was a lot of scepticism when they first got together. But they’ve been together a long time now, they have a close-knit family, and they seem genuinely in love. Geri is very sweet with Olivia [Horner’s daughter with previous partner Beverley Allen]. She threw Christian an incredible 50th birthday party [in 2023] – Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, and Gary Barlow were there.”
The insider continues: “From what I’m hearing today, she remains very supportive of him. She’s pretty battle-hardened after dealing with the paparazzi for years. She maintains a stiff upper lip when times get hard.”
Indeed, Horner told The Telegraph in 2023: “Geri has been in the public eye for 25 to 30 years now. She’s seen the good side of the press and the bad. So when there’s some big flashpoint or controversy […] she’s excellent at putting things in perspective.” In that interview, Halliwell did say of Horner: “I still call him out sometimes, as any wife does.” But in 2024, speaking about the scandal, Horner praised his “unbelievable, fantastic” spouse for being “absolutely outstanding and hugely supportive.”
Will that support continue? It really depends on what exactly happened at Red Bull, notes Borkowski. “If more details have emerged about what led to his sacking that she finds intolerable, then she’ll have a big decision.” The Telegraph contacted Halliwell’s representation for comment.
Halliwell relished being the glamorous first lady of the racing circuit, especially as the sport’s popularity skyrocketed thanks to the hit Netflix series Formula 1: Drive to Survive and this year’s movie, F1, starring Brad Pitt. Rachel Richardson, who writes the culture and trends newsletter Highly Flammable, thinks Halliwell will be gutted about that loss of status. “She seemed to love that role,” observes Richardson. The insider adds: “I do think she enjoyed the profile that came with being with one of Formula One’s biggest personalities. Although, notably, she’s continued turning up to lots of races in the past year to support Christian. I think she’s shown her true colours.”
But it’s hard to get an entirely clear read on Halliwell, who regularly waxes lyrical about her domestic bliss, and yet has maintained a separate career – and even returned to using her maiden name in an Instagram video for Dior in June 2024. Halliwell introduced herself by saying, “C’est moi, Geri – Geri Halliwell.”
