Red Bull deny surprise claims Christian Horner will be SACKED before F1's next Grand Prix in Australia as shareholders meet in Dubai - after Max Verstappen called for an end to the in-fighting around Geri Halliwell's husband

Red Bull have denied suggestions that Christian Horner could be sacked before the Australian Grand Prix after reports team shareholders met in Dubai on Sunday night. 

Horner's position as team principal has been the subject of intense speculation after he was accused of 'inappropriate behaviour' by a female employee before the start of the 2024 season. 

An investigation cleared Horner and it appeared that he would retain his position within the team, before alleged messages to the complainant were divulged to a number of media outlets and F1 figures.

Advisor Dr Helmut Marko then revealed that he was thinking about leaving the team before accusations of leaking evidence over Horner's behaviour - with Max Verstappen vocal in his support for his mentor claiming he could 'not continue' without the Austrian. Marko then insisted he would not be leaving the team following crunch talks. 

Horner's ex-Spice Girl wife Geri Halliwell has continued to publicly support her husband, appearing at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix events. 

Red Bull have denied claims that they could sack Christian Horner ahead of the Australian Grand Prix in two weeks

Red Bull majority shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya was another visible supporter of Horner during the Grand Prix

Reports claim Yoovidhya met with Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff in Dubai on Sunday night 

Majority owner Chalerm Yoovidhya had been a supporter of Horner throughout, but a report from German outlet F1-Insider.com claimed he was now inclined to sack the team principal. 

Yet on Sunday night, after another dominant display in Saudi Arabia that saw Verstappen romp home to a second race win of the season with Sergio Perez again right behind, the team denied that Voovidhya had turned on the 50-year-old. 

The German outlet reported that the 51 per cent majority owner of Red Bull was now aligned in his view with fellow shareholder Mark Mateschitz and Oliver Mintzlaff who were erring on the side of removing the pit boss. 

'As Christian has said, he is grateful for the full support of the shareholders and that remains the case,' a spokesperson for Red Bull said.

According to the Telegraph, Yoovidhya met with Mintzlaff in Dubai on Sunday, with the suspected topic believed to have been the next steps in the ongoing saga in the team.

Yoovidhya had shown his support publicly for Horner earlier in the season, turning up in person to the opener in Bahrain along with his partner. 

Marko told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Sunday that he had considered walking away even before the Horner controversy blew up.

'I hope it will all be over as soon as possible,' the 80-year-old Austrian said. 

The 73-year-old and his family have a net worth of in the region of £26bn, according to Forbes

Red Bull adviser Dr Helmut Marko (left) said he wouldn't be suspended by the Formula One team having been accused of leaking evidence over Horner's behaviour 

Horner, pictured with wife Geri Halliwell, was cleared of 'coercive behaviour' towards a female employee before messages allegedly exchanged between the pair were leaked

'I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last year, but I also think we should think about Dietrich [Mateschitz's, the Red Bull founder] legacy, what his ideas were and where they took us. We owe that to him.'

De Telegraaf also reported that Marko had planned to fly back to Europe from Saudi Arabia with Horner but instead opted to take a private jet with Verstappen.

Marko suggested he was in the clear following his chat with Mintzlaff, saying: 'We decided that these rumours [of the leaks] were spread and had no legal background. I will not be suspended.

'Our goal is to win the world championship. For that we will have to work hard.'

Verstappen was again imperious on Saturday, cruising to victory at Jeddah for his second race win in a week as he begins the 2024 season the same way he finished off in 2023 - in dominant fashion.

He made no bones about his feelings towards the situation with Marko, openly claiming he would struggle to remain at Red Bull without him. 

However, before Saturday's race, Verstappen told Sky Sports F1 it was 'absolutely' good news that Marko's future appeared to be resolved.

Asked whether he really would consider walking away, Verstappen added: 'I always said that what is most important is that we work together as a team and that everyone keeps the peace.

Max Verstappen was rampant in his victory on Saturday to a second successive race win to kick off the 2024 season

Dutch superstar Verstappen has called for 'peace' at Red Bull with the team gripped by scandal

Horner was seen holding Halliwell closely in Jeddah as Red Bull cruised to another victory

Marko (left) with Verstappen (second left), Horner (second right) and Sergio Perez (right) after Red Bull claimed another victory in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

'And that's what we, I think, all agree on within the team. So hopefully, from now on, that is also fully the case.

'Everyone is trying to focus in the same direction. And I think the positive out of all this is that it didn't hurt our performances. So it's a very strong team.

'I think also mentally, what you can see from not only the driver's side, but also mechanics, engineers, everyone is there to do their job.

'And I think everyone, even when there is stuff going on or whatever, they're just focused on their job as they should be.'

Verstappen's father Jos has been one of the more vocal figures calling for Horner's dismissal, claiming that the team would 'explode' if he was allowed to remain in his post. 

'The team is in danger of being torn apart,' he exclusively told Mail Sport. 'It can't go on the way it is. It will explode.'

Then those revelatory images of the pair engaged in fierce confrontation after qualifying on Friday night came to light. 

According to his affiliates, Horner believes Verstappen Snr has orchestrated a campaign to unseat him for the past few weeks, the implication being that the Dutchman may even have had a hand in the email leak. Verstappen Snr denies having any role in the leak.

Jos (right with his son Max) told Mail Sport that Red Bull would 'explode' if Horner kept his team principal role

Both Verstappen and Horner were seen waving their arms about during their behind-closed-doors discussion

The Dutch star driver also admitted that he would always 'be a team' with his father, and the driver is thought to have a clause written into his contract that the departure of Marko allegedly paves the way for his own exit. 

Horner's accuser was suspended by the team following the KC-led investigation, although reports have suggested that they may be set to appeal the verdict that cleared him.

Red Bull's current engine manufacturer Honda had called for transparency amid the 'sex texts' scandal following his accuser's suspension over 'dishonesty' 

The Australian Grand Prix is not for two weeks, and the Telegraph is also reporting that there is a separate investigation ongoing into leaks over the last few weeks.