Geri Horner displayed 'tension' towards Christian and was 'driving their PR response' as the couple put on united front at Bahrain Grand Prix following leaked text message scandal, body language expert claims
- Former Spice Girl, 51, was seen holding hands with her husband at the races
- Read More: Geri Horner is elegant in white dress and £780 Louboutin heels
Geri Horner showed 'tension' towards Christian in Bahrain and was the one 'driving their PR response' to her husband's leaked text message scandal, a body language expert has claimed.
The couple walked hand-in-hand in the Paddock ahead of the season opener in Bahrain this afternoon. Halliwell appeared red-eyed as she put on a brave face, smiling while her husband clenched her hand.
After Christian was cleared of inappropriate behaviour allegations, flirtatious WhatsApp messages apparently exchanged between Horner and the female complainant were leaked to 149 F1 figures while Halliwell was on a flight to see her husband ahead of this weekend's season opener in Bahrain.
Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Judi James said that Geri tried to convey 'resilience' and wanted to overlook her husband's leaked text message scandal at the races today.
The expert said: 'Geri’s demure, slightly lip-clamped smile is clearly intended to signal resilience and a message of ‘ignore’ to all the current stories swirling about her husband.
![Pictured: Christian and Geri Horner seen arriving at the Bahrain Grand Prix hand-in-hand after his flirtatious messages leaked online](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955901-0-image-a-29_1709390139633.jpg)
Pictured: Christian and Geri Horner seen arriving at the Bahrain Grand Prix hand-in-hand after his flirtatious messages leaked online
'This display of loyalty contains several incongruent signals to hint at inner tension from her and some awkward anxiety from him, though.
'Her smile does not reach her eyes suggesting a lack of genuine happiness.'
On top of this, the expert highlighted how Geri was taking the lead with their public display of unity.
She continued: 'Their hand clasp looks led by her as it is pulled closer to her body in some shots, suggesting she’s the one driving this PR response.
'He meanwhile has one hand shoved into his pocket creating a gesture that can often suggest a desire to hide.'
What's more, Judi also noted how the couple's hand-holding could be interpreted as another sign of tension.
Judi explained: 'Christian shoves one hand in his pocket to feign nonchalance but a close up of their hand clasp shows his knuckles are white as he holds her hand tightly enough to suggest tension.
'Her hand is cupped upward suggesting compliance and agreement and her fingers are curled round his hand to enforce that tight grip.
![According to body language expert Judi James, Geri's smile here lacked 'genuine happiness' at today's Grand Prix](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955373-13148851-image-a-33_1709390448330.jpg)
According to body language expert Judi James, Geri's smile here lacked 'genuine happiness' at today's Grand Prix
![The expert said of Christian: 'The expert said: 'His smile looks performed and awkward while hers only involves a curling upward of the lips with no eye smile to make it look congruent'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955903-0-image-a-30_1709390145757.jpg)
The expert said of Christian: 'The expert said: 'His smile looks performed and awkward while hers only involves a curling upward of the lips with no eye smile to make it look congruent'
![Judi said of their arrival at the Grand Prix: 'Their hand clasp looks led by her as it is pulled closer to her body in some shots, suggesting she¿s the one driving this PR response'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955027-0-image-a-31_1709390152471.jpg)
Judi said of their arrival at the Grand Prix: 'Their hand clasp looks led by her as it is pulled closer to her body in some shots, suggesting she’s the one driving this PR response'
![Judi said: 'A close up of their hand clasp shows his knuckles are white as he holds her hand tightly enough to suggest tension'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955913-0-image-a-32_1709390185494.jpg)
Judi said: 'A close up of their hand clasp shows his knuckles are white as he holds her hand tightly enough to suggest tension'
![Judi also noted how Geri and Christian's kiss at the Bahrain Grand Prix was 'awkward' and may have been PR 'overkill'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81956259-13148851-image-a-34_1709390935087.jpg)
Judi also noted how Geri and Christian's kiss at the Bahrain Grand Prix was 'awkward' and may have been PR 'overkill'
As well as Geri's smile 'lacking genuine happiness', Judi claimed Christian's body language was similarly performative.
The expert said: 'His smile looks performed and awkward while hers only involves a curling upward of the lips with no eye smile to make it look congruent.'
Judi also noted how Geri and Christian's kiss was 'awkward' and may have been PR 'overkill' to quash any rumours of their marriage being in crisis.
She continued: 'The kiss looks slightly awkward, which it would tend to be with all the camera interest. It might also have been overkill.
'When you’re performing under pressure it’s often best to keep your body language simple with maybe just an exchanged loving smile.
![Halliwell was wearing a tight-lipped smile alongside her egg shell knee-length dress](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955005-13148851-Halliwell_was_wearing_a_tight_lipped_smile_alongside_her_egg_she-a-39_1709391166232.jpg)
Halliwell was wearing a tight-lipped smile alongside her egg shell knee-length dress
![As they walked up the stairs of Red Bull's rooms, Horner put his hand on his wife's back](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/02/14/81955003-13148851-As_they_walked_up_the_stairs_of_Red_Bull_s_rooms_Horner_put_his_-a-40_1709391177795.jpg)
As they walked up the stairs of Red Bull's rooms, Horner put his hand on his wife's back
'Christian leans down to plant this kiss though and it appears to miss the target, not in a disastrous Charles and Diana way but Geri’s lips seem to have landed on his chin rather than fully on the mouth.
'It’s powerful intentional gesture of marital continuity but it looks awkward and her raised hand doesn’t seem to make contact with his torso.'
Horner was cleared to continue as Red Bull head following an internal probe into 'inappropriate behaviour' by the F1 team's parent company, Red Bull GmbH. The 50-year-old has always denied the claims.
The Red Bull F1 boss initially broke cover at the Grand Prix on Saturday morning with no sign of his wife Geri Halliwell after his wife found out the texts were leaked as she was flying in a private jet.
An insider previously told the Mail it would be 'mayhem' if Geri showed her face at Saturday's Grand Prix.
Halliwell, who married the Red Bull team principal in 2015, went 'into meltdown' when she touched down in the Gulf state on a private jet on Thursday and discovered the bombshell messages had been plastered all over social media.
The 51-year-old singer has a son, Montague George Hector Horner, with Horner.
She also has a daughter, Bluebell Madonna, born in 2006, with former partner and screenwriter Sacha Gervasi.