Geri Halliwell ‘read Christian the riot act’ behind scenes in Bahrain as friends are ‘astonished’ at show of support

GERI Halliwell shared an ­awkward hug and a cringey kiss with hubby Christian Horner amid the sexts leak — but there were “fireworks” behind the scenes, sources said last night.

The Spice Girl, 51, presented a united front with the under-fire F1 Red Bull boss before and after ­yesterday’s Bahrain Grand Prix.

GettyGeri Halliwell shared an ­awkward hug and a cringey kiss with hubby Christian Horner amid the sexts leak[/caption]

GettyThe Spice Gir presented a united front with the under-fire F1 Red Bull boss before and after ­yesterday’s Bahrain Grand Prix[/caption]

EPABut sources said last night there were ‘fireworks’ behind the scenes[/caption]

She had landed in the Middle East on Thursday night, as a torrent of sexually suggestive WhatsApp messages and ­pictures between Horner, 50, and a female employee began to circulate worldwide.

Sources said furious Geri “read the riot act” to him but put on a brave face for the cameras — to her husband’s “relief”.

Ginger Spice — in high heels, a white designer dress and clutching a Hermes bag — strode hand-in-hand with her ­husband to a hospitality area ahead of the race yesterday.

Horner then leaned in to plant an ­awkward kiss on his wife’s cheek while putting his arm around her back.

After Red Bull’s world champ Max Verstappen stormed to victory in the season opener yesterday, Geri was clasped tightly by her husband as she flashed a forced-looking smile for the cameras.

Horner gushed: “It’s been the best ­possible start to the season, very clinical and well-executed. The perfect start.”

The public displays of affection came as showbiz sources said Geri had considered the future of her nine-year marriage to Horner, father of her seven-year-old son.

One close to the singer said: “A lot of people who know her are astonished by this show of support. There is absolutely no doubt she is furious and has read him the riot act over what has happened.

“There are questions about her future with him and she let him know in no uncertain terms. It’s uncertain whether their marriage will survive but she is ­giving it a good chance by showing him support, at least in public.

“But deep down she must be hurt, humiliated and very, very angry. However, this does at least show she hasn’t gone nuclear and run to the first expensive divorce lawyer she can find. So Christian is happy and relieved about that.”

The bombshell messages were leaked after Horner had been cleared last week in a Red Bull probe.

Some of the messages seemed to show Horner asking the woman for pictures and in others he appears to discuss a solo sex act in a plane toilet.

The source continued: “The texts leak moved the goalposts – and Geri was furious about it.

“When Christian first told her about the situation, he said he had fallen out with a woman who wanted promotion and more responsibility in Red Bull.

“So he sold it to Geri as a workplace row and she accepted that. So Geri is now fuming that there appears to be more to this.”

An F1 paddock source said: “Christian is relieved and thrilled by Geri’s show of support.

“He was really happy she had flown out and was with him and was looking forward to focusing on racing and the season ahead.

“They had time to discuss everything before yesterday and she must have accepted his explanations to a point to turn out to support him.”

PAThe public displays of affection came as showbiz sources said Geri had considered the future of her nine-year marriage to Horner[/caption]

PAGeri reportedly knew the staffer at the centre of the sexts storm, and sources said she had visited the couple’s London home[/caption]

Geri reportedly knew the staffer at the centre of the sexts storm, and sources said she had visited the couple’s London home.

However, showbiz insiders said the Spice Girl’s spirituality and religious beliefs have helped to edge her towards forgiving her husband.

Geri, who often wears a crucifix around her neck, turned to Christianity in 2001 when she went on a ten-week Alpha course on the Bible.

She previously told The Sun she conceived in her mid-40s after praying to God to get pregnant naturally.

Our source added: “Geri is highly spiritual and religious. And her Christianity is helping Christian because — although angry — she believes in forgiveness and wants to keep her family together.

“The first people Geri will turn to in a situation like this are her spiritual friends.

“She’ll be concerned about things like what the energy around the situation is and will not rush to snap judgments.”

Horner — cleared of “coercive behaviour” in a three-week probe — has not commented on the leaked messages.

In a defiant statement on Thursday, he said: “I won’t comment on anonymous speculation but have always denied the allegations.

“I respected the integrity of the independent investigation and fully co-operated with it.