The FIA has made a rapid about-turn after announcing that it was investigating a conflict of interest complaint involving F1 Academy head Susie Wolff, and has dropped the matter after just two days.
The governing body announced on Tuesday that it was looking into allegations that confidential information relating to Formula One Media – which owns the commercial rights to both F1 and F1 Academy – had been passed between Wolff and Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff, who is Susie’s husband. Wolff also had access to information about conversations between team principals, which in turn could be of value to FOM. That investigation ended abruptly on Thursday.
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When initially announcing its investigation, the FIA said that its compliance department had taken on the matter based on “media speculation,” which appeared to be a report in one UK-based publication. The Wolffs were not named in the FIA’s initial statement, but were quickly linked to the matter in subsequent media reporting, which the Wolffs suggested was the product of off-the-record briefing.
Formula 1 and Susie Wolff immediately responded with statements rejecting the claims, as did Mercedes, which also took aim at the FIA’s handling of the issue. One day later, all 10 Formula 1 teams coordinated to issue identical statements denying that they had made a conflict of interest complaint to the FIA — directly undermining the FIA’s justification for its investigation, which it said was rooted in reports of rival teams being concerned about the Wolffs’ relationship in light of their jobs — and throwing their support behind the couple:
“We can confirm that we have not made any complaint to the FIA regarding the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed between an F1 Team Principal and a member of FOM staff,” the statement read. “We are pleased and proud to support F1 Academy and its managing director through our commitment to sponsor an entrant in our liveries from next season.”
The FIA remained light on specifics when it backed down on Thursday, saying only that it had revisited FOM’s code of conduct and conflict of interest policies, and had satisfied itself that “FOM’s compliance management system is robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.” It concluded by confirming that there is “no ongoing investigation.”
While the FIA considers the matter over, Mercedes has confirmed that it is in “active legal exchange” with the FIA.
“We await full transparency about what took place and why, and have expressly reserved all legal rights,” said Toto Wolff. “Therefore we ask for your understanding that we will not be commenting officially for now, but we will certainly address the matter in due course.”
In a separate statement, Susie Wolff expressed her own anger about the handling of the matter and said she had been subjected to significant online abuse as a result of it — ironically on the same day the FIA released a report on its website proclaiming “alarming” results from a survey in which 90% of its member federations agree that sporting figures are at risk of withdrawing due to online abuse, with the governing body urging collaborative action to combat such abuse.
“When I saw the statement issued by the FIA yesterday evening, my first reaction was: ‘Is that it?'” she said. “For two days, insinuations have been made about my integrity in public and through background briefings, but nobody from the FIA has spoken to me directly.
“I might have been collateral damage in an unsuccessful attack on somebody else, or the target of a failed attempt to discredit me personally, but I have worked too hard to have my reputation called into question by an unfounded press release.
“I have received online abuse about my work and my family. I will not allow myself to be intimidated and intend to follow up until I have found out who has instigated this campaign and misled the media,”
Meanwhile, FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem –whose relationship with FOM and Liberty Media had been tumultuous even before this latest incident — is receiving treatment in hospital after sustaining a concussion in a fall.
“Several days ago the president took ill and suffered a fall and concussion,” read a statement issued by an FIA spokesperson. “He received care in hospital and will make a full recovery.”
The exact timing of Ben Sulayem’s accident remains vague; however, he tweeted a video from the opening day of the 2023 FIA General Assemblies in Baku on Tuesday. That video has since been deleted.