F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix Race: Christian Horner latest and live build-up with Max Verstappen in pole position ahead of 2024 season opener… but will Geri Halliwell join her husband in the paddock?

This could be a good weekend for Oscar Piastri and Yuki Tsunoda.

Piastri has qualified in eighth, with Tsunoda 11th.

Incidentally, both of them finished ninth on their F1 debut at Bahrain – Tsunoda three years ago and Piastri last campaign.

Christian Horner is making sure he still gets a tan in the bleak winter of F1 discontent.

Red Bull’s chief is pictured in conversation… and is that the faintest smile on his face?

Is that diamond encrusted? Can’t tell, but whatever it is, Lewis Hamilton has got style.

Perhaps the deep red colour of his jacket is dropping a hint about his F1 future…

Something more light-hearted here.

F1 stars have been asked to describe their job to a five-year-old child.

Lewis Hamilton claimed he’d say something funny, but actually opted for something almost sensual!

‘When the engine starts and the seat vibrates, it tickles your back.’

Makes it sound like his job is getting massaged!

Martin Brundle, one of Formula 1’s most affable and respected figures, has expressed his sadness over the scandal enveloping the sport – and fears it’s only just the beginning.

Any Spice Girls fans reading?

With a public psychodrama penetrating into the very heart of Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell’s marriage, it’s not an easy situation for them to manage.

Halliwell is holding ‘crisis talks’ over Horner’s leaked text messages and did not want to meet her husband in Bahrain until she was talked into it by his family, according to sources.

Friends of the star, who is understood to have known about and approved of the woman working for her husband’s team, have told Mail+ they are ‘deeply concerned’ about her and said the singer appeared ‘fragile’ when they saw her some weeks ago.

Red Bull’s backroom team is packed with F1 know-how.

Here’s their chief technical officer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley.

One of F1’s most popular drivers, Pierre Gasly, must have nightmares about the Bahrain GP.

After qualifying last in the first race of the 2023 season, he’s only gone and done it again, with Alpine buddy Esteban Ocon helping him to prop up the back of the grid.

Alpine are looking weak at the moment – could another team take advantage of their frailties?

One of the lesser-heralded figures in F1 but with every right to be at the race, here’s James Vowles.

Williams are entering their second season with Alex Albon and Logan Sargeant as a pairing, so they’ll be hoping to build on their seventh-placed finish, though even consolidation would be a good result.

Morning George. Hope you’re reading this.

Russell had a storming qualifying session and starts on the second row in third place, six spots ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who had quite a rough time, especially in the first qualifying session.

Shieldd by shades, Red Bull’s beleagured boss has arrived at the paddock ahead of the Bahrain GP.

Here’s Lando Norris signing a cap if you’re short on pictures of those variety, although its proprietor has left the label on!

With the storm billowing over F1, perhaps the hopes and dreams of McLaren this season have gone under the radar.

They’re quietly confident. Norris starts seventh today.

We’ve got a wild Daniel Ricciardo on our hands.

Pictures are trickling in of our F1 stars arriving today and Ricciardo has, understandably, been a hit with the fans.

He’s a larger-than-life personality and starts in 14th today, a respectable position for the rebranded RB team (formerly Alpha Tauri).

Everyone in Formula 1 has an opinion on the Christian Horner scandal, even if they’re not willing to share it.

Those who work closely with Horner are divided. The scandal enveloping him has been bad PR for F1, but he also has some staunch allies.

Why not take a look at where the fault lines lie? Here’s our piece on who stands with Horner and who is more distant.

There’s nothing quite like seeing the sparks sizzle at the rear end of a Formula 1 car.

Under the cover of evening in Sakhir, hopefully we’ll see a few illuminate the track.

Red Bull’s embattled chief has been present in the build-up to the GP so far.

Here’s a photo of him arriving with a bag to prove it.

Horner cut a lonely figure as he turned up and has remained stoic throughout the ordeal, with the controversy surrounding him threatening to derail Red Bull’s prim preparations.

Let’s not forget that 20 people are putting their lives on the line at 3pm today. Yes, believe it or not, amid all the furore, there is a race happening.

Max Verstappen qualified in pole position for this one, as he did last year. And last year he won the opening GP at a canter before scooping up 18 more victories. Way to go.

Joining him on the front row is Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, while George Russell is poised for a strong race in third.

As for Lewis Hamilton, well, he’s down in ninth. It was a nervy qualifying session for the 39-year-old while Carlos Sainz, the man who he will replace at Ferrari, starts in fourth.

Below you’ll find our review of qualifying.

Fancy a deeper dive into the WhatsApp leak?

On Thursday, just as the second practice session was getting underway, an email was sent spinning into a pantheon of Formula 1 titans.

FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, team principals, senior journalists. All were privy to 79 documents which purported to shine a light on inappropriate behaviour from Horner.

He refused to comment specifically on the leak but insisted he denied any allegations.

You can read more about this latest twist below.

Formula 1 cars can reach speeds of up to 225mph. You’d be forgiven for feeling you need to reach that pace to keep up with the Christian Horner updates!

If you’re not fully familiar with the controversy surrounding Horner, Red Bull’s team principal, this timeline will guide you through every turn.

• An initial allegation of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ against him
• Red Bull’s parent company launching an investigation
• Comments from Horner and other senior figures in the sport
• Horner being CLEARED by the investigation, meaning he can keep his £8million-per-year job
• The thunderbolt of leaked texts – and the strain on his marriage to Geri Halliwell

Well, it’s finally here. After 97 days, hundreds of leaked messages, and one almighty scandal, Formula 1 is back and more explosive than ever.

Welcome to the Bahrain GP, 2024, a curtain-raiser like no other.

While last season signified dull dominance on Red Bull’s part, this campaign begins as one of the most volatile in history.

On Wednesday, Red Bull’s parent company cleared team principal Christian Horner of ‘coercive behaviour towards a female employee’. And so after a month of tension the sport – and Horner’s marriage to Geri Halliwell – appeared to finally have some fragile peace restored.

Not for long. Within 24 hours, an anonymous email address sent hundreds of WhatsApp messages to leading F1 figures and members of the press. The bombshell email alleged that Horner had sent them, many of an erotic nature, plunging the paddock back into disarray.

There are other reasons why this season starts like few others.

Lewis Hamilton will enjoy a final swansong with Mercedes before pitching up at Red Bull in 2025, leaving Carlos Sainz to scramble for a seat elsewhere. Cue shockwaves on the grid.

This will also be the longest F1 season ever, featuring a staggering 24 races. How’s your stamina?

Mail Sport will be with you every step of the way. Time to get stuck in.