The unexpected dismissal of Christian Horner from his position as the head of Red Bull carried a hidden, tragic element: his first wife passed away merely ten days prior after a prolonged struggle with cancer, as learned by MailOnline.

Beverley Allen, aged 58, who was the mother of the former F1 boss’s teenage daughter, died at her residence in the Cotswolds last Monday, marking two years since her initial diagnosis of eye cancer.

Beverley shared 14 years with Horner until their separation when he later wed Geri Halliwell. In addition to their daughter, Horner had a role in raising her two sons, maintaining cordial relations throughout.

Beverley and Horner were together throughout the early and mid 2000s – with her support crucial to his extraordinary F1 success.

A friend of Beverley’s told MailOnline: ‘Beverley was a lovely woman and it is so cruel what has happened to her.

‘She found out she had eye cancer a couple of years ago and she was aware that it wasn’t going to be a very good prognosis but it is still a devastating shock.

‘Beverley was loved by everyone who knew her. It’s just heartbreaking.’

Her death came just days before Christian was sacked by Red Bull 15 months after allegations of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ made last year by a female colleague at Red Bull Racing.

Horner had denied the claims and was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent KC appointed by Red Bull to investigate but the row did not go away.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Christian will be very upset indeed by Beverley’s passing – he has lost an old friend and his daughter has lost her mother.’

Beverley was initially heartbroken back in October 2014 when Christian, 51, walked out on her when their daughter was just six months old and began a romance with Geri.

The pair made their relationship public and announced their engagement in November of the same year. They later wed in May 2015 at St Mary’s Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, however, Christian’s parents chose to not attend the ceremony as they were reportedly upset over his split from Beverley and his new relationship with Geri.

The parents are said to have remained close to Beverley and their granddaughter despite the split from their son.

A friend of Beverley’s added that ‘life had been cruel’ to her, especially as she had just become a mother to their much wanted daughter when Christian left her.

‘She really didn’t have it easy, we are all devastated.’

But Horner and Beverley, a former publican, were able to patch their relationship up and things between them had been ‘harmonious’ in recent years.

Beverly, who was six years her former husband’s senior, had two sons from a previous relationship when they met – to whom Horner had been a step father figure.

Following her split from Christian, Beverley lived in a stunning Grade II listed property in the Cotswolds village with her daughter and their two dogs. 

One neighbour told MailOnline: ‘It’s absolutely devastating news. She was a wonderful woman and we will all miss her. In recent months we’ve been seeing Christain visting the house quite a lot and I think he was doing all the could to support her.’

Another neighbour added: ‘We are all heartbroken this was no age for Beverley to die and our thoughts are with the rest of the family.

‘Since her death, the house has been empty. We will all miss Beverely because she was an important part of our community and everybody liked her.’

The historic Grade II listed townhouse where Beverley lived was built in the 18th Century and boasts a 2.5 acre garden, five bedrooms and is considered one of the finest houses in the town.

A friend of Beverley’s added that ‘life had been cruel’ to her, especially as she had just become a mother to their much wanted daughter when Christian walked out.

‘She really didn’t have it easy, we are all devastated.’

Beverley would regularly post photographs of herself and Olivia on Instagram up until 2018 but has shared nothing since.