Christian Horner and Max Verstappen hug it out as Red Bull F1 team put on a show of unity at Australian Grand Prix after 'sex texts' scandal

Christian Horner and Max Verstappen have been seen hugging as Red Bull's F1 team put on a show of unity at the Australian Grand Prix following the 'sex texts' scandal. 

Red Bull team principal Horner, married to former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, finally surfaced at Albert Park in Melbourne ahead of the upcoming race after turbulent recent weeks - and appeared to be getting on well with his organisation's star driver Verstappen.

Horner was seen having a chat with Verstappen and the driver's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, despite the team principal facing criticism from the driver's father following the 'sexting' controversy. 

An internal investigation was carried out prior to the 2024 season following a complaint made by a female employee at Red Bull and Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing just a day before the first practice session at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

What appeared to be intimate WhatsApp exchanges allegedly sent by Horner to the female colleague were then leaked to a number of key F1 figures and the media just 24 hours later, bringing his conduct back into the spotlight.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has finally been spotted at Albert Park after evading photographers when he arrived in Australia

Horner was seen hugging Red Bull's star driver Max Verstappen

Horner was pictured having a meeting with Max Verstappen and the driver's manager, Raymond Vermeulen, shortly arriving at the Albert Park track on Thursday

There have been reports casting doubt on the future of Verstappen (right) with the team

The 50-year-old managed to evade photographers when he arrived in Australia for the race, and it is not known whether his wife Geri will be in attendance for the Grand Prix on Sunday. 

Horner, 50, has continued to maintain his innocence and his Red Bull team have made a dominant start to the season by securing successive one-two finishes, but doubts have emerged over the future of driver Verstappen as a result of the scandal.

Thai businessman Chalerm Yoovidhya owns 51 per cent of Red Bull and has reportedly sent a family member - dubbed the 'Thai spy' - to keep tabs on Horner and the wider company.

The drama could potentially tear the Red Bull operation apart, with Horner on one side and Max and his father, Jos, and Red Bull chief Helmut Marko on the other.

Jos Verstappen has called for Horner to be removed, while Max insisted that he would quit the team if Marko were to leave.

Marko faced accusations of being the source of the leaked messages and admitted that he may not be at this weekend's race in the event he faces disciplinary action. He has since insisted that he is not leaving the team.

Horner has had a tumultuous few weeks after being accused of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ by a Red Bull employee but looked relaxed in Melbourne on Thursday (pictured)

The Red Bull boss was spotted chatting to former Haas boss Guenther Steiner in the paddock

Horner appeared relaxed as he walked through Albert Park on Thursday as it was rumoured that something of a truce has been agreed upon between the major parties at Red Bull ahead of the race this weekend.

Horner's wife Geri has continued to publicly support her husband, appearing at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix events - but it is not known if she'll travel to Melbourne.

The team principal is not out of the woods just yet, as his accuser has launched an appeal against the findings of Red Bull's investigation.

She is reportedly unhappy that she was not shown the full sex-text dossier before the internal inquiry produced its verdict.

Meanwhile, recent reports have suggested Horner's highly rated right-hand man Adrian Newey is in advanced talks to join Ferrari.

Horner's off-track drama remains the hottest topic of conversation in Formula 1 (pictured, the team boss entering the paddock at Albert Park on Thursday)

An internal investigation cleared the beleaguered husband of former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, who made a very public display of support for him at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix (pictured)

Reigning world champion Max Verstappen (pictured in Melbourne on Thursday) has won the opening two races of the new season

Chief technical officer Newey has played a vital role in designing Red Bull cars that have brought so much success over the years, including winning the last three world championships with Verstappen.

He has been dubbed the 'aero king', helping the team become the dominant constructor on the track, with the current both driver and constructors championship leaders set to storm to yet another two world titles this year. 

According to BILD, Newey could be on his way out of the team, with Ferrari looking increasingly to lure the 65-year-old.

Newy has in the past expressed his desire to work with Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari before he calls time on his career.

The opportunity seems to have now presented itself, with Hamilton set to join Ferrari in 2025 and Prancing Horse chief Fred Vasseur now rebuilding the operation.

Hamilton spoke about Newey prior to the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix.

'I think my move has shown that anything's possible and it's going to be a really interesting next six months or so,' he said. 

'In terms of Adrian, having worked within the team [Red Bull], I know obviously Adrian gets all the praise for everybody's work.'