
© Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Only two days after starting its investigation into Toto and Susie Wolff’s alleged conflict of interest, the FIA has announced “there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual”.
A recent report from BusinessF1 magazine has suggested that Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and his wife, F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff are allegedly disclosing confidential information to each other.
The FIA then announced they have opened an investigation into the matter, but refrained from naming any names.
Immediately afterwards, Formula 1 came out with a statement of its own, claiming that they have not been notified of any such investigation, and completely denying the allegations.
The Mercedes F1 Team also denied the allegations and said that they have not been contacted by the FIA, and had to learn about the investigation from the media.
If you like SilverArrows.Net, consider supporting us by buying us a coffee!
Susie Wolff was the only directly implicated person to come out with a statement of her own, and she said she was “deeply insulted” by the allegations, and added they were “rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour”.
In the original BusinessF1 report it was stated that the issue was originally raised by certain team principals, but then all nine of the remaining F1 teams came out with a coordinated statement and denied their involvement, while also expressing their support for Susie Wolff.
Now, only two days after the investigation was announced, the FIA came out with another statement, saying the investigation has been dropped.
“Following a review of Formula One Management’s F1 Code of Conduct and F1 Conflict of Interest Policy and confirmation that appropriate protective measures are in place to mitigate any potential conflicts, the FIA is satisfied that FOM’s compliance management system is robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information,” the FIA’s statement read.
“The FIA can confirm that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual.
“As the regulator, the FIA has a duty to maintain the integrity of global motorsport. The FIA reaffirms its commitment to integrity and fairness,” the statement concluded.
The whole story regarding this “investigation” seems very strange, and one has to wonder what the FIA was trying to achieve in the first place.
If Sky Sports F1’s Craig Slater is to be believed, “senior figures” within Mercedes think “this is falling within a wider context of friction between the FIA and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff”, with the FIA aiming to cause “reputational damage”.