Christian Horner scenes on Drive to Survive show Geri Halliwell’s reaction as boos follow sex-texts scandal

christian horner appears in new Drive to Survive footage that revisits the moment fans booed him at the F1 72 launch after the leaked sex-texts controversy, and the documentary also includes his public defence of the circumstances around his 2025 exit from Red Bull.

Christian Horner and the O2 booing

At the F1 72 launch event at the O2 in February last year, fans booed Horner as he took the stage to deliver a speech; he responded on stage by saying, "It's a pleasure to be at the O2, anyway. I hope everyone is having a good night. " The documentary shows Horner later awkwardly looking for directions to his seat in the crowd after the speech.

Geri Halliwell's unseen reaction

Netflix cameras captured Geri Halliwell, 53, watching the scene from the audience; she was seen smiling but seemingly concerned. Halliwell had been a semi-regular presence on race weekends, often appearing in the paddock at prominent races such as the British Grand Prix before Horner was sacked as Red Bull chief during last season, and she supported him throughout the controversy.

What the paddock saw and who reacted

As Horner was booed, other drivers in the audience were shown watching: Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, as well as Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. Hamilton, stunned, was seen backstage saying, "s***. " Lawson said, "I think we are going to get a lot of boos, " to which Verstappen replied, "I don't give a f***. " The footage is presented alongside the sequence that began in February 2024 when the paddock was stunned by a leaked cache of suggestive messages purporting to be from Horner.

Clearances, questioning and the Red Bull statement

The exact nature of the complaints remain unknown in the public record, but the context shows Horner was later accused of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour by a female member of staff. He was questioned by a KC for a full day at a secret location last year while the barrister gathered evidence that was written up in 150 pages for the Red Bull board's determination. He always denied the accusations.

Red Bull GmbH released a statement saying: "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 report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and, therefore, we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned. Red Bull will continue striving to meet the highest workplace standards. "

Accounts in the material note that Horner was twice cleared of the claims; one description says KCs twice cleared him of wrongdoing, while another describes him being cleared first after an internal investigation conducted by a lawyer and then by another lawyer who dismissed the complainant's appeal.

Exit from Red Bull and Horner's defence

christian horner left his roles as team principal and chief executive in 2025, stepping down last summer after months of team decline and internal disputes. He joined Red Bull in 2005 and led the team to eight drivers' championships and six constructors' championship titles; Max Verstappen won four Formula 1 titles under his leadership.

Horner said he did not believe that Verstappen and his camp were responsible for his dismissal, adding: "[Max Verstappen's] father has never been my biggest fan. He's been outspoken about me, but I don't believe that the Verstappens were responsible in any way. " He described his exit as sudden, saying, "I didn't really get the chance to say a proper goodbye, " and blamed Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff and Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, saying the decision was made by Mintzlaff with Helmut advising from the side-line. Horner added that after the founder's death — "after Dietrich [Mateschitz]'s death" — he may have been deemed to have "maybe too much control. " He left with a £52m payout and said he felt a "real sense of loss. "

Others in the context suggested differing theories about his exit: Jos Verstappen said Horner was "driving people apart" before his departure, and some suggested the move was an attempt to convince Verstappen to sign a new deal; Verstappen, who is contracted until 2028, only committed to racing for Red Bull in the 2026 season after Horner's exit.

The documentary release is presented in the material as taking place on a Friday and includes Horner's on-camera comments and the previously unseen audience reaction; the next confirmed public item in the context is the documentary itself and the accompanying footage it makes available for viewers.