Geri Halliwell has demanded that her husband Christian Horner cuts ties with the female colleague he is accused of sending racy messages to, sources claimed last night.

The former Spice Girl, who has stood by her beleaguered partner resolutely so far, is said to have laid down ‘strict ground rules’ for the Red Bull boss after he was cleared of inappropriate behaviour.

Halliwell, 51, is said to have ‘read her husband the riot act’ before putting on a show of unity with him in front of the cameras at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, including kissing him before Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull.

Although Verstappen and Sergio Perez shone in Bahrain with a sensational one-two finish, the spotlight continues to glare on Horner who is facing fresh calls to resign amid the bombshell text messages being leaked.

Horner, 50, had been cleared to continue as Red Bull team principal on Wednesday following an internal probe – but 24 hours later, flirtatious texts allegedly exchanged between him and the female complainant were leaked to 149 F1 figures.

While Ginger Spice may have stood by her husband in a show of solidarity this weekend, insiders say that the pop star wants the female employee ‘out of the picture’. 

Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell hold hands in a public display of unity at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday

The former Spice Girl celebrates with Horner after Red Bull secured a memorable one-two finish in Bahrain

Halliwell kisses her husband before the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday afternoon

A source told The Sun: ‘Although she smiled for the cameras at the Grand Prix, Geri has laid down some strict ground rules. 

‘One is that Christian cuts or reduces contact with the woman — but that is difficult because of her role at Red Bull.

‘And she has definitely had her say over what messages he sends. For obvious reasons, Geri would like the female colleague — who she knew before her appointment — to be out of the picture as much as possible.’

The source added that Red Bull cannot sack the woman because there are no grounds to do so.

An F1 insider also told the publication that Halliwell, who shares seven-year-old Monty with Horner, had shown ‘nothing but support’ to her husband but is unlikely to be at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix next weekend because she is ‘incredibly busy’. 

Horner is facing calls to quit his role and has been accused by Verstappen’s father, Jos, of ‘driving the team apart’.

Verstappen Snr, who manages his world champion son Max, told Mail Sport in Bahrain: ‘There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can’t go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.’

In further comments to The Telegraph, he said: ‘It cannot continue this way. The situation is not good for the team and is driving people apart.’

But a spokesman for Red Bull said: ‘There are no issues here. The team are united and we are focused on racing.’ 

Horner, meanwhile, has said he ‘absolutely’ expects to remain in charge at Red Bull for next week’s Grand Prix.

Horner stands behind his wife as Red Bull celebrate taking first and second place in the inaugural race of the season

Red Bull’s Formula One driver Max Verstappen celebrates winning the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday

The Red Bull chief said his ‘focus is on this team’ and ‘my family’ as he kicked off the Formula One season

The Red Bull chief told Sky Sports he ‘wouldn’t be here otherwise’ if he thought he was about to lose control of the F1 team. 

He said: ‘We have got tremendous support, tremendous partners and great shareholders behind us as well.

‘You don’t achieve this kind of result by not being united.’

Asked if he still expects to be in charge by the time next week’s race kicks off in Jeddah, he said: ‘Yes, absolutely. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.’

Before the race Horner and his wif, who he has been married to since 2015, had been spotted in a public display of unity.

Horner had slipped out of the back of Red Bull’s hospitality suite through a gate to meet her as she arrived at the main entrance of the paddock.

They then held hands as they walked through the paddock to Red Bull’s hospitality suite. During the short walk they were mobbed by photographers and TV crews.

The couple were all smiles at lunch where they were later joined by Red Bull’s head of communication and former F1 team principal Flavio Briatore and Red Bull’s majority shareholder, and Horner ally, Thai billionaire Chalerm Yoovidhya.

Horner headed for the race grid about 45 minutes before the 3pm start, giving Geri a kiss as he left.

Sources told The Sun that the former Spice Girls singer is ‘furious’ with her husband, but has not ‘gone nuclear’.

After they kissed on camera, Halliwell seemed to look directly at photographers

Race winner Max Verstappen and Christian Horner celebrate after winning the F1 Grand Prix in Bahrain

Geri Halliwell celebrates in Bahrain after Red Bull claimed a one-two victory after a difficult couple of weeks 

Christian Horner was spotted chatting to former Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson in Bahrain

Friends of Halliwell previously told the publication she had ‘read him the riot act’ over the situation.

Horner, who has always denied the claims, said previously: ‘I have the support of an incredible family, an incredible wife, an incredible team and everybody within that team.

‘And my focus is going on racing, winning racing and doing the best I can.

‘It was a day about starting the season in he best possible way. My focus is on this team, my family, my wife and racing.’

The WhatsApp messages were sent from an anonymous email account to 149 members of the F1 paddock – including the president of the sport’s governing body Mohammed ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali and the grid’s nine other team principals, as well as members of the media.

The bombshell email contained 79 documents, including hundreds of messages, many of them of a sexual nature. 

Horner continues to operate in his role as team principal and chief executive, although it is understood there is considerable unease among the team’s plethora of sponsors and partners.

He spoke only once about the latest allegations as he made his way from Red Bull’s hospitality suite to the team’s garage on Friday.

‘I am not going to comment on anonymous speculation from unknown sources,’ he said.

When asked what comes next, Horner replied: ‘We go racing.’

MailOnline has contacted Halliwell’s representatives for comment.