Under pressure Red Bull boss Christian Horner shared photos of his wife Geri to mark Mother’s Day amid turmoil over his job at the F1 team.
Horner, 50, remains boss of Red Bull’s grand prix operations after being cleared of inappropriate behaviour towards a female member of staff.
On track, the team has started 2024 the way it left off last season - with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez completing a second successive one-two result for the team in Saudi Arabia.
But Horner’s personal life has come into the spotlight, with the former Spice Girl, 51, reportedly embarrassed after messages her husband sent were leaked to the paddock.
The female Red Bull staff member has been suspended by the team as the couple - married since 2015 - have held hands and kissed in parc ferme.
On Sunday, Horner doubled down on the charm offensive by sharing snaps of his wife with their son Monty as well as pics of his own mother Sara.
On Instagram, he wrote: “Happy Mother’s Day - So appreciative of the mums in our family for everything they do. We’re always grateful, today and every day.”
Horner, who additionally has a daughter born from his relationship with Beverley Allen, had left the comments on for the post before limiting them.
Not present in Saudi Arabia was Jos Verstappen, the father of Max, who has been critical of Horner and said the publicity could “tear the team apart”.
Verstappen, a former F1 frontrunner himself, said: “It can't go on the way it is. It will explode.”
Horner has led the team since Red Bull bought out the former Jaguar / Ford Cosworth operation in 2005 when the team was more or less an also-ran. He has been credited for helping lead the team to multiple driver and constructor titles.
After the race on Saturday, he wrote: “A second 1-2 finish and another brilliant performance by the team to secure maximum points and get our 2024 season off to a great start.
“Congratulations to @maxverstappen1 on a ninth consecutive victory and 100th podium in the sport, with @schecoperez also driving a superb race to overtake Charles and secure the 1-2 and a perfect start.
“The car has been an aggressive evolution to its predecessor. It’s a testament to the unrelenting work of the Team in Milton Keynes that we bring home another 1-2 victory.”
