CHRISTIAN Horner breathed a huge sigh of relief after receiving more backing from Red Bull’s bosses.

Horner hugged and shared a joke with Red Bull’s CEO Franz Watzlawick on the grid before the race as both parties tried to draw a line under their recent spat.

Christian Horner shakes hands with Franz Watzlawick on the grid before the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia
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Christian Horner shakes hands with Franz Watzlawick on the grid before the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, right, celebrates with Horner after winning the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
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Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, right, celebrates with Horner after winning the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand PrixCredit: AP

The Red Bull team leader, seen here with his wife Geri Halliwell, was cleared of inappropriate action towards a female colleague
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The Red Bull team leader, seen here with his wife Geri Halliwell, was cleared of inappropriate action towards a female colleagueCredit: AFP
Even Helmut Marko, the outspoken Austrian who works as Red Bull’s motorsport advisor and who had clearly aligned himself with Horner’s rival, Jos Verstappen, appealed for calm – just 24 hours after hinting he could be suspended.

It marked a good day for Horner as Max Verstappen, who was again miles ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez.

It was Verstappen’s 56th win and his 100th podium in yet another crushing display that will surely now concern the F1 chiefs.

The Dutchman’s success goes against the model of US sports and the audience American-owned Liberty Media have tried to win over