Author: quyen1

‘The Problem Child’ insists his clash with Tyson will be a legitimate boxing contest.

HIGHLIGHTS

 Jake Paul has taken aim at ‘absurd’ online claims over the alleged rules of his fight with Mike Tyson.
 ‘The Problem Child’ looked furious when addressing the subject on his podcast.
 Despite social media speculation, the fight is expected to be a genuine boxing match.

Jake Paul will step into the ring with combat sports icon Mike Tyson on July 20th in one of the most controversial boxing matches in recent memory. While it is known that the bout will take place at the 80,000-seat AT&T Stadium in Dallas and be streamed worldwide on Netflix, little else is known about the polarising contest.

No formal rules have yet been announced for the fight, meaning there has been no confirmation of the number or length of the rounds, nor has an official weight class been publicised – although it is expected that the clash will take place at heavyweight where ‘Iron Mike’ fought all of his 56 bouts as a professional.

Jake Paul Dismisses ‘Absurd’ Leaked Rules For Tyson Showdown

‘The Problem Child’ spoke out on the latest edition of his podcast

Where any degree of uncertainty exists, there will typically be a large number of social media users ready to offer up their theories on the matter – and the Tyson v Paul fight has proved no exception. One particular clip, though, had gained so much traction that Paul could not help but comment on it during the most recent episode of his BS w/Jake Paul podcast.

The TikTok video in question featured several claims, which – if proven true – would have been the most farcical stipulations in the sport’s history. Firstly, it was suggested that Paul would box with headgear on, but Tyson would not. The theory behind this is that the YouTube star would be free to land clean shots to the 57-year-old’s head, while still being protected from ‘Iron Mike’s’ concussive punching power. As ridiculous as that ‘rule’ would be, the next proposition was even more bizarre.

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According to the clip, Jake would be allowed to tag in his brother – WWE United States champion Logan Paul – during his bout with Tyson and ‘both fight at the same time’. It was at this point that Jake lost all patience when reviewing the video. You can check out the clip – and ‘The Problem Child’s’ response to it below.

Video: Jake Paul Slams Fan Theories on his Fight vs Mike Tyson

Paul couldn’t hide his frustration

“That’s probably where you can pause it [after the Logan tag team suggestion]. It’s so sad that millions of people believe that. It’s f***** absurd. Obviously, none of that is true. It’s so stupid. Anyone who believes this should not be allowed to vote. These people are out there driving cars. They’re dumb as f***. Humans are getting more stupid every day. It’s crazy, bro!”

“So what round were you planning on tagging Logan in?” Paul’s co-host joked, as laughter rang around the studio. Elsewhere in the episode, the Cleveland-born superstar insisted that he remains confident ahead of his contest with Tyson, declaring that he “can’t wait” to feel the veteran’s power.

It remains to be seen exactly what the formal rules will be for Tyson v Paul, but suggestions that it will be anything other than a genuine boxing match are being fiercely denied by the fighters themselves.

Nearly three years removed from his boxing match with Jake Paul, Ben Askren doesn’t have too many bad feelings.

‘Funky’ was one of the first fighters to step up, and call out ‘The Problem Child’. After Jake Paul knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., Ben Askren aimed at the YouTuber. The former UFC welterweight had retired a year earlier and got a hip replacement in retirement.

Naturally, that made him a perfect opponent for Jake Paul. Quickly, the two sides reached a deal and competed for the upstart Triller Fight Club in April 2021. The boxing match was the first, and almost definitely the last, for Ben Askren. Despite training with Freddie Roach and others, ‘Funky’ was knocked out in round one.

Over the following years, several other MMA fighters met the same fate against Jake Paul. With that in mind, Ben Askren doesn’t feel so bad about it. Speaking on Rampage Jackson’s JAXXON podcast, the former UFC welterweight was asked about his brief foray into boxing. There, Askren admitted that he hadn’t even sparred in the years before accepting the fight.

However, Askren was hopeful that the YouTuber-turned-boxer wasn’t good, and that he would be able to outlast him. That obviously, didn’t happen. However, given Jake Paul’s success in the boxing ring, and future victory over Anderson Silva, Askren feels that he did about as well as he could’ve hoped for.

RELATED: REPORT | FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER TO RETURN JUNE 1ST IN SAUDI ARABIA

Image Credit: Triller Fight Club

Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren reflects on boxing match with Jake Paul

“I had no intention of fighting him initially. I was just tweeting, like everyone does right?” Ben Askren stated on the JAXXON podcast when asked about his boxing match with Jake Paul. “Then, they call me and they’re like, ‘Hey, want to fight?’. I don’t know, it kinda sounds fun. But I had my hip surgery, so I had done literally zero exercise, so I was fat as s*it. So I called my doctor, got my clearance from my doctor to start training again.”

He continued, “I was just hoping he sucked. I kind of figured he wasn’t very good, and I would be able to weather the storm for a round or two, he’ll get tired, and then I’ll beat him up. Now obviously, since that point in time, he’s beaten Anderson Silva. He’s beaten Tyron [Woodley], he beat a professional boxer.”

“He’s actually kind of good at it, it’s unfortunate.” Ben Askren concluded. “Most unfortunate for me.”

In the years since Ben Askren’s loss to Jake Paul in the boxing ring, he’s remained retired. However, ‘Funky’ did offer to come out of retirement, to face former rival, Jorge Masvidal at UFC 300.

What do you make of these comments? What do you remember of Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren in 2021?

Credits: IMAGO / HochZwei and IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Ever since Oliver Bearman showed his prowess in Saudi Arabia, he has been a hot topic of discussion in F1 forums. Some found Bearman’s debut so impressive that they speculated whether Ferrari would regret its decision to sign Lewis Hamilton for 2025. Certainly, the 18-year-old performed exceptionally well to outscore Hamilton in Jeddah, finishing 7th. However, French journalist Fred Ferret says that Frederic Vasseur won’t be sweating on signing up the seven-time champ ahead of Bearman.

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On the F1 Nation podcast, Ferret defended Vasseur’s call about sealing Hamilton as a Ferrari driver for 2025. He said, “It’s not being rude to Ollie Bearman, not at all. When you have Lewis Hamilton, you don’t think about anything else. So if you have Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, it’s not being mistaken by forgetting Ollie Bearman.”

Ferret is a close friend of the Ferrari boss, so the host Tom Clarkson wanted his views on what Vasseur could be thinking after seeing Bearman in Jeddah. While the British prodigy has turned a lot of eyeballs after his incredible stand-in performance, the French boss knows what value Hamilton brings to the table.

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Hamilton jumping ship to the Italian stable was arguably the biggest news of the year and shocked the F1 world to the core. He  himself mentioned that driving for Ferrari was a childhood dream for him and Vasseur’s presence as the team boss completed the puzzle for him. Hamilton and Vasseur go way back as they have worked with each other during his junior racing days.

Amid this closely-knit dynamic, Bearman is certainly a fresh face. He may have stirred the pot in terms of the available options in the driver market for 2025. However, Vasseur and Ferrari may not want to sideline Hamilton for the 18-year-old.

Is Ferrari betting wisely on Lewis Hamilton’s experience?

Lewis Hamilton shifting base to Ferrari, when many thought he may retire at Mercedes was shocking to many fans. Hamilton, one of F1’s greatest ever is joining arguably the most iconic F1 team but it is hard to not ignore the fact that he will be 40 years old when he joins.

Besides, even Ferrari has not been in the best position to fight for wins and championships. Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko also commented on how the move surprised him, given the timing.

As per RacingNews365, Marko said, “You wonder how it could have happened. Mercedes was overtaken by Ferrari in the second half of the 2023 season and McLaren was also faster. Perhaps Hamilton has realized something that the outside world does not yet know”.

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While the Italian team’s competitiveness may improve, Hamilton is certainly in the twilight of his career. So, can Ferrari get the best from the 39-year-old, who has not won a race in the last two years?

Add to this, Oliver Bearman’s stunning debut, and that puts the Maranello team in a fix. On one hand, they wish to retain the British prodigy, but can’t afford to give him a Ferrari seat.

There have been reports of Haas wanting Bearman’s services for 2025. Given Haas’s close working relationship with Ferrari, it could safeguard Bearman for a couple of years by giving him the deserved shot in F1. Even Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has mentioned that he is a fan of the 18-year-old and would want to consider signing him up.

Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will reportedly be returning to the boxing ring in June.

‘The Bronze Bomber’ is still one of the most high-profile boxers alive today. However, Deontay Wilder has seen better years. Since losing his WBC heavyweight title to Tyson Fury in early 2020, the American has struggled to get back on track. He later lost a trilogy bout to ‘The Gypsy King’ in 2021, losing by 11th-round knockout.

However, Deontay Wilder later rebounded with a victory over Robert Helenius in late 2022. The victory was a major one for the former champion, and it earned him a long-awaited grudge match with Anthony Joshua. All Wilder had to do, was defeat Joseph Parker last December, and he would face ‘AJ’ in March.

Instead, Deontay Wilder was largely dominated by the Aussie last year in Saudi Arabia. As a result, the former champion lost his fight with Joshua, to PFL heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’ wound up being demolished by the British boxer in his second boxing match, losing by knockout.

After Deontay Wilder lost his massive payday against ‘AJ’, some figured he would retire. The former champion was fast approaching his 40s and has lost three of his last four. However, anyone expecting ‘The Bronze Bomber’ to leave boxing that easily was mistaken. According to a recent report from ESPN Ringside’s Mike Coppinger, he will return in June.

RELATED: DANA WHITE BRUTALLY TAKES AIM AT JAKE PAUL VS. MIKE TYSON: “HE’S GOING TO FIGHT CLINT EASTWOOD NEXT”

Deontay Wilder expected to return to the boxing ring on June 1st in Saudi Arabia

On June 1st, Deontay Wilder will reportedly travel to Saudi Arabia to face Zhilei Zhang. For those who can remember, these two were linked to a potential bout on the undercard of Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou. Instead, the Chinese boxer wound up meeting the aforementioned Joseph Parker.

‘Big Bang’ entered the bout a heavy favorite, but again, the Australian scored an upset win. With both Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang coming off losses to Parker, it makes a fair bit of sense to put them together. However, the Chinese heavyweight has had far more success in the boxing ring lately.

The two heavyweight contenders are expected to meet on the undercard of Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev. That light-heavyweight collision will unify all the gold at 175 pounds and is considered one of the biggest boxing matches of 2024. Now, they’ve got a perfect co-main, in the form of Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang.

It’s worth noting that June 1st is on track to be one of the most packed days in combat sports. Beyond that boxing event in Saudi Arabia, UFC 302, as well as Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz 2, is set to be held on the same night.

What do you make of this boxing news? Who do you have in this heavyweight clash? Deontay Wilder or Zhilei Zhang?

Nearly three years removed from his boxing match with Jake Paul, Ben Askren doesn’t have too many bad feelings.

‘Funky’ was one of the first fighters to step up, and call out ‘The Problem Child’. After Jake Paul knocked out former NBA player Nate Robinson on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr., Ben Askren aimed at the YouTuber. The former UFC welterweight had retired a year earlier and got a hip replacement in retirement.

Naturally, that made him a perfect opponent for Jake Paul. Quickly, the two sides reached a deal and competed for the upstart Triller Fight Club in April 2021. The boxing match was the first, and almost definitely the last, for Ben Askren. Despite training with Freddie Roach and others, ‘Funky’ was knocked out in round one.

Over the following years, several other MMA fighters met the same fate against Jake Paul. With that in mind, Ben Askren doesn’t feel so bad about it. Speaking on Rampage Jackson’s JAXXON podcast, the former UFC welterweight was asked about his brief foray into boxing. There, Askren admitted that he hadn’t even sparred in the years before accepting the fight.

However, Askren was hopeful that the YouTuber-turned-boxer wasn’t good, and that he would be able to outlast him. That obviously, didn’t happen. However, given Jake Paul’s success in the boxing ring, and future victory over Anderson Silva, Askren feels that he did about as well as he could’ve hoped for.

RELATED: REPORT | FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER TO RETURN JUNE 1ST IN SAUDI ARABIA

Image Credit: Triller Fight Club

Former UFC welterweight Ben Askren reflects on boxing match with Jake Paul

“I had no intention of fighting him initially. I was just tweeting, like everyone does right?” Ben Askren stated on the JAXXON podcast when asked about his boxing match with Jake Paul. “Then, they call me and they’re like, ‘Hey, want to fight?’. I don’t know, it kinda sounds fun. But I had my hip surgery, so I had done literally zero exercise, so I was fat as s*it. So I called my doctor, got my clearance from my doctor to start training again.”

He continued, “I was just hoping he sucked. I kind of figured he wasn’t very good, and I would be able to weather the storm for a round or two, he’ll get tired, and then I’ll beat him up. Now obviously, since that point in time, he’s beaten Anderson Silva. He’s beaten Tyron [Woodley], he beat a professional boxer.”

“He’s actually kind of good at it, it’s unfortunate.” Ben Askren concluded. “Most unfortunate for me.”

In the years since Ben Askren’s loss to Jake Paul in the boxing ring, he’s remained retired. However, ‘Funky’ did offer to come out of retirement, to face former rival, Jorge Masvidal at UFC 300.

What do you make of these comments? What do you remember of Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren in 2021?

Credits: IMAGO / PanoramiC

F2 sensation Oliver Bearman is likely to receive more opportunities in F1 this season as Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has made the 18-year-old a public promise. The Briton will make multiple FP1 appearances with Haas this year before he gets a full-time seat in 2025.

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As quoted by Junaid on Twitter (now X), Vasseur said, “He will start FP1 sessions with Haas soon, and this will also be important for us to give him experience and mileage in the car. He will do a couple of FP1s with us and Haas during the season”. The Frenchman then added that Ferrari and Haas will provide him with FP1 opportunities in Brazil and Mexico.

Although Oliver Bearman has earned the praises of many after his outstanding debut performance in Saudi Arabia more than a week ago, Vasseur believes it is still too early for his side to judge the teenager. Instead, Vasseur has urged everyone, including the media, to only judge the 18-year-old after his appearances in Brazil and Mexico later this year.

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Even though Vasseur has made such a request, the rumors surrounding Bearman’s future just do not stop. There have also been reports that Ferrari are lining up Bearman as a potential long-term replacement for Lewis Hamilton. However, Vasseur is unimpressed by such speculations.

Fred Vasseur not thinking about the future after Lewis Hamilton

Since Lewis Hamilton will turn 40 next year when he joins Ferrari, several experts believe that the seven-time champion is likely to have a short stint at Maranello. As a result, some experts have suggested that the Prancing Horse could be considering Oliver Bearman as a potential replacement for Hamilton.

However, Fred Vasseur has rubbished such speculations. The Frenchman recently said (as quoted by Junaid on Twitter), “Don’t start talking about post-Hamilton. Lewis isn’t in the team yet. But it’s definitely a good sign for Ollie. It was an important milestone (F1 debut in Saudi Arabia)“.

While Vasseur believes it is too early for Ferrari to make a call about Bearman’s future, there is no doubt that the 18-year-old was mightily impressive during his F1 debut in Jeddah. After qualifying 11th and almost knocking out Hamilton in the process, Bearman managed to finish the Grand Prix in seventh.

The British teenager finished ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Hamilton. Soon after Bearman finished ahead of his two compatriots, Hamilton was one of the first to congratulate the 18-year-old with a handshake.

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Hamilton’s praises for Bearman then also continued in his post-race interviews. As per Crash.net, Hamilton praised Bearman for delivering such a magnificent performance for a top side like Ferrari on such short notice.

The British prodigy received only three hours of notice, following which he took part in the third free practice session. And after just one full practice session, he stepped into qualifying and then his maiden race. Now, considering Vasseur’s promise to Bearman, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the 18-year-old.

Credits: IMAGO / Every Second Media and IMAGO / HochZwei

Lewis Hamilton has a famous companion in Roscoe, who was initially a shelter dog. Over the years, Roscoe became a crucial part of Hamilton’s life and is just as famous as the 39-year-old. Now that Roscoe is a lot older, Hamilton believes it is time for his pet dog to start a family. Referring to the same during Mercedes’ interaction session with the fans in Australia, Hamilton revealed he is on the lookout for owners of female bulldogs who would want them to mate.

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As seen in a video clip uploaded on Twitter (now X) by ‘Sir Lewis Updates,’ Hamilton spoke about Roscoe’s online profile receiving hundreds of messages from female dogs. “A lot of girls want to mate with him,” revealed the Briton.

Hamilton then revealed he had Roscoe “snipped” some time ago, which meant he wouldn’t be able to reproduce. However, before the procedure, the Mercedes driver had Roscoe’s “stuff” frozen. Hence, the possibility of him becoming a father remains.

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“That’s my dream, actually, to have puppies – Roscoe puppies. I think you’d be confused, but I actually had to snip (him) many years ago. It’s gonna sound weird, but because he’s a pedigree, I had his stuff frozen. So, if anyone’s got a female bulldog here…”

Roscoe stands as one of the most famous dogs on the planet. His Instagram profile boasts over a million followers, with the count increasing each day. He even has various brand deals, including gigs for a modeling agency. Up until two years ago, Roscoe was earning up to $700 a day through photoshoots, per Showbiz CheatSheet.

Hence, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he were earning a lot more. Roscoe even has a video game version of himself, recently appearing as Hamilton’s companion in the popular MMO game Fortnite.

The story of how Lewis Hamilton met Roscoe

Lewis Hamilton has often referred to Roscoe as his best friend in the entire world. The bulldog is almost always a talking point in Hamilton’s interviews, with fans wanting to know of every little detail about him. During a Q&A session on Mercedes’ official YouTube channel, Hamilton recounted the journey of adopting his furry friend.

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The Briton revealed he sifted through nearly a thousand bulldogs before he encountered Roscoe on an online website. The young dog was up for adoption, and as soon as Hamilton saw him, he knew he was the one. Recalling the same, Hamilton claimed it was one of the best decisions of his life to adopt Roscoe.

When it came to naming his new dog, Hamilton didn’t have to think much. Once ‘Roscoe’ came up as a potential name, Hamilton found it “cool.” To him, it best suited his pet’s personality, and there was no need to think beyond the name. Hence, Roscoe and Hamilton became partners for life. Much like Hamilton, Roscoe, too, is an adrenaline junkie.

The bulldog loves quad biking the most. “I remember putting him on at one time, and then I put him down, and he kept on trying to get back on.” Away from quad biking, though, Roscoe enjoys being lazy and likes to be taken around by others.

Credits: IMAGO PanoramiC

Lewis Hamilton‘s disappointing season continued this weekend at Albert Park in Melbourne, as he got knocked out of Q2 in Qualifying ahead of the Australian GP. Hamilton will start tomorrow’s race from P11, but he isn’t too shocked, because his results over the last couple of years have made him accustomed to this.

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In an interview with Sky Sports, Hamilton said, “I’m a bit used to it now, getting knocked out of Q2. So Kind of just a flat feeling. It’s not great but yeah.” 

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On Friday, Hamilton described his practice running as his worst session in a long time, but Mercedes made some changes to the W15 after his complaints. He started Saturday morning on a better note, finishing just a tenth of a second behind leader Charles Leclerc in FP3. Unfortunately, Mercedes and Hamilton lost their rhythm once they entered Qualifying.

Hamilton wasn’t too comfortable in Q1, but somehow made it into the second part of the session. There, Lance Stroll and Yuki Tsunoda’s final push-laps ensured that the Briton didn’t make it to Q3. He finished P11 and has his work cut out for him ahead of Sunday’s race.

In the same interview, Hamilton shed light on a particular thing, that plagued his performance in Melbourne. He emphasized on the unsteadiness of the car in the afternoon, because of the increasing wind. P11 is Hamilton’s worst starting position in Melbourne since the 2010 Australian GP.

What did Lewis Hamilton say about George Russell’s performance?

While Lewis Hamilton suffered a shocking exit in Q2 at Albert Park, his teammate George Russell was able to salvage a respectable P7. For the third consecutive weekend, Russell has outperformed the seven-time world champion, and Hamilton seems to be growing more frustrated with each passing day.

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The Stevenage-born driver agrees that Russell is doing a better job. In the post-qualifying interview, he said, “George did a good job today. It is what it is. “

According to Hamilton, there isn’t a good feeling within the team. However, when they take to the circuit for the Grand Prix tomorrow, they will hope for a much better race.

IMAGO / Paul Marriott

Earlier this week, Catherine Middleton, the Princess of Wales, revealed the shocking news that she has cancer, which explained her absence from the public eye for the last few weeks. Upon hearing this concerning news, British F1 driver George Russell sent the Princess his best wishes.

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The Princess of Wales spoke about her illness in a video published on X (formerly Twitter). She let the world know that she has been away from the cameras to be close to her family, undergo treatment and expects everyone to respect their privacy.

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Ahead of the Australian GP in Melbourne, Russell posted a story on his Instagram handle with the caption, “Wishing you and the family the very best.”

The news is particularly disturbing because Middleton is not the only member of the Royal Family who is ill with cancer. His Majesty King Charles is also suffering from cancer, and his health remains fragile. The Princess’ revealed that she got to know about her cancer following the abdominal surgery she underwent back in January.

Like the king, 42-year-old Kate Middleton did not disclose what kind of cancer she has.

British Royal Family’s connection to sports

It appears that the British Royal family has an affinity for sports-related hobbies. For example, we’ve witnessed Princess Catherine Middleton and Prince William attend many sports matches in the past.

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The Late Queen Elizabeth II was a fan of motorsports, and congratulated Lewis Hamilton after he won his seventh-world championship in Turkey in 2020. Princess Kate and Prince William themselves are big fans of motorsports. A few years ago, they took part in a reaction test, which F1 drivers take part in, to work on their reflexes.

Catherine’s cancer revelation came as a shock, not just to the athletes of Britain, but to everyone. Aside from George Russell, several athletes and well-wishers from around the world sent their best wishes to her, hoping for a quick recovery.

GERI Horner and Christian Horner cuddled up during the podium celebrations at the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix in another public show of unity.

Geri, 51, stood by the 50-year-old Red Bull Racing chief in his team’s hospitality suite before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.

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Christian Horner and Geri in Jeddah this eveningCredit: Reuters

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The couple put on a united front ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand PrixCredit: AP

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Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and wife Geri talk today in the Paddock during the Saudi F1 Grand PrixCredit: Getty

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The pair continue to put on a united frontCredit: Getty

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Geri Halliwell looks on in the Paddock today before the Saudi Arabia F1 Grand PrixCredit: Getty

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The Spice girl enters the Red Bull hospitality suite at Jeddah Corniche CircuitCredit: Getty
And the pair were seen locked around each other as Red Bull celebrated a 1-2 podium finish on Saturday evening.

But her second public show of support in a week was dented by another jibe from Red Bull world champ Max Verstappen’s dad Jos, who repeated calls for Horner’s head.

And he twisted the knife by revealing he supports the unidentified team employee suspended after accusing her boss and sending hundreds of “sexually suggestive” texts.

Geri appeared red-eyed last week when she was pictured kissing her husband and holding hands as they walked through the F1 paddock at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

But she was much more composed yesterday as she appeared at the trackside wearing a long-sleeved white dress in keeping with Saudi Arabia’s strict religious dress code.

The pop icon was seen greeting several Red Bull staff preparing for the evening race before stepping into the team’s luxury motorhome.

She also appeared relaxed and smiled alongside her tracksuited husband as they took tea in his team’s trailer.

Trendsetter Geri has worn almost exclusively white outfits over the past five years but the modest ensemble she sported yesterday drew comparisons to Star Wars’ Princess Leia.

Insiders said she had spent time relaxing in Dubai prior to yesterday’s F1 event and was in a better frame of mind than in Bahrain, when the Red Bull “sext bomb” had just dropped.

A source close to the couple said: “They want the world to see they’re still very much a couple and that it’s business as usual for Red Bull.

“It’s been tough but Geri has been a rock for Christian through all this and he has spoken out about how much that means to him.

“There was no question of her staying away from Saudi – that would have sent entirely the wrong message.”

Geri was also buoyed by a public show of solidarity from ex-bandmate Melanie Brown – the Spice Girls’ “Mel B” as she fought to calm her marriage crisis.

Melanie, 48, said it had been “horrible” to see her suffer and that she, Mel C, Emma Bunton, and Victoria Beckham would “take a bullet” for their friend.

She added: “Between the four of us we’ve all been messaging her, I sent a message to her earlier. I just feel for her, and… oh my God. I just feel sad.

“But she knows she has us four that are with her. Because I don’t really know the ins and outs, all I see is, ‘That’s my friend and I know what she’s going through is really tough.’

“All you can do is be there, just like the girls have been there for me, all I can do is be there for Geri.

“But it is horrible to see your friend going through something, something you don’t quite know what it is, but that’s your friend and you want to protect her, no matter what.”

SCANDAL… LAP BY LAP

FEBRUARY 5: A Dutch newspaper reports a female Red Bull employee has made serious allegations of “inappropriate, controlling behaviour” about Horner to parent company Red Bull GmbH.

FEB 9: Horner is quizzed for nine hours by the lawyer hired by Red Bull to investigate.

FEB 15: He denies the allegations and says they are a distraction for the team.

FEB 15: F1 says it hopes the matter will be clarified at the earliest opportunity after a fair and thorough process.

FEB 26: Red Bull’s engine partner Ford says it is increasingly frustrated by the team’s handling of the complaint.

FEB 28: Horner is cleared of all wrongdoing. The employee is said to have the right of appeal.

FEB 29: Horner says he is pleased the investigation is over.

FEB 29: WhatsApp texts and pictures claimed to be between Horner and the employee are sent to journalists and F1.

MARCH 1: Horner refuses to comment on what he calls “anonymous speculation from unknown sources”.

MAR 2: Horner and wife Geri are pictured hand-in-hand, as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen wins the Bahrain Grand Prix. Horner says before the race: “It’s been very testing for my family but we are very strong and our focus is on this race.”

MAR 3: Verstappen’s dad Jos, claims Red Bull is in “danger of being torn apart” if Horner stays in the job. He denies being the source of the WhatsApp leak, saying: “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.”

MAR 6: Max Verstappen sides with his dad in the row.

MAR 7: Horner says he wants to draw a line under the scandal and hails Geri’s support — as Red Bull suspends the employee.

On Thursday, Horner saluted his “phenomenally supportive” wife but insisted it was time to “draw a line” under the scandal.

But his accuser has won the support of UK parliament equality chief Caroline Nokes who  encouraged her to take her case to an employment tribunal.

And Verstappen Snr – who is understood to have become close to the woman – reignited the row yesterday, days after a public bust-up with Horner in Bahrain.

Jos, 52, hit out again after skipping the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to compete in a rallying event in Belgium.

He said: “I think it’s too late for Christian to say ‘leave me alone’ but he has the support of the Thai owner so I think he will stay for the rest of the season

“I said it would be bad if he stayed, it really isn’t good for the team, this whole situation.”

Jos – who has warned Red Bull will “explode” if Horner stays – also lifted the lid of what appeared to be a public bust-up between the pair in Bahrain last week.

The Dutch former racing driver said: “He was saying to me ‘Do you trust me? I will do everything for your son’ and we were talking with our hands, we didn’t have a fight.

“But on Friday we did have an argument in the office, and I walked out but, in the trailer, he came up to me and said ‘Congratulations, good race’.”

Voicing his support for Horner’s attractive blonde accuser, Verstappen Snr said: “I sympathise with the woman, with all that she went through, but we will see what happens.

“Red Bull seem to know what they are doing with her, we will see. But I think it is for her to come out and see what happens.

“I’m not fully up to speed with what is happening with her but all these things that are going on are having an influence on Max.

“I’ve already said I think it is causing problems if he stays.”

Quizzed about Horner’s bid to draw a line under the saga, Jos said : “I think it’s a bit too late for that now. If that’s what he wants, fine, but I don’t think it will be possible.”

The Sun revealed on Thursday that Horner’s accuser had been suspended, with insiders alleging it was over “inconsistencies” in her evidence to a barrister-led probe.

Pals said Horner was finding it impossible to avoid his accuser at work who among 1,600 employees at the team’s HQ in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

HR bosses stepped in and suspended her on full pay on Monday and she is currently mulling whether to appeal against the rejection of her complaint.