Susie Wolff – Syndication Server

FIA jumped to ‘bad conclusions’ over Wolffs – Vasseur

The FIA’s public statement about a potential investigation into a conflict of interest involving Toto and Susie Wolff was too hasty and “quite embarrassing for the whole sport,” according to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. The governing body …

The governing body issued a statement off the back of a single report in a monthly publication, saying it was looking into the matter of “the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM [Formula One Management] personnel.” That statement led to a robust response from Mercedes, the Wolffs and later the remaining nine teams on the grid, with a further FIA statement two days later backtracking after review of FOM’s F1 Code of Conduct and F1 Conflict of Interest Policy.

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“I think all this story is quite embarrassing for the whole sport,” Vasseur told select media in Maranello. “The story started with an article in a newspaper — I don’t know if a ‘newspaper’ is the right word — and I think in this situation when you are speaking about individuals, you have to be careful about what you are saying…

“I think it would have been appropriate from the FIA to … they needed 24 hours between the announcement and the second announcement, so it would have made sense to use that 24 hours before the first announcement to avoid any bad conclusions.”

At a time when a new Concorde Agreement is set to be discussed between F1, the FIA and the teams, Vasseur says he doesn’t think the current situation is overly damaging on that front, but noted how the FIA statements brought all 10 teams together in Susie Wolff’s defense.

“After the … ‘incident’ of last week … at least the teams were very united. I think it was the first conclusion for me, that we were able to act together, and it’s not very often. Even Red Bull was supportive with Toto, we have to notice it!

“Honestly, I think it’s a good point for us to take a position and discuss with all of the other stakeholders. I think it’s the first time that the teams together showed something like this. For sure we know each time that the Concorde Agreement is a crucial one, but I think that we are in a much better situation today than we were five years ago.

“Five years ago, before COVID, when we signed the current Concorde Agreement, we have to keep in mind that we had four or five teams almost in bankruptcy. Today it’s not the same situation at all. The business is much more sustainable thanks to the cost cap, thanks to the prize fund distribution, and this for F1 is the guarantee of the stability for the future.

“Now you can always discuss about technical regulations, governance, prize fund distribution, but it will be marginal. It won’t impact the sport, it won’t impact the business, it won’t impact Formula 1.

“Five years ago I think it was a completely different situation. I’m not sure without the financial regulations we would have been able to attract Audi, for example. A couple of new investors joined F1, mainly due to the Concorde Agreement and the financial regulations. It means now I think we are on the right path. We just have to work together, and to work together in serenity.”

Hamilton slams FIA investigation of Wolffs as ‘unacceptable’

Lewis Hamilton arrived for the annual FIA prize-giving in Baku anticipating questions about his up-and-down 2023 that netted third place in the world championship but extended his winless drought to two full Formula 1 seasons. Instead, he found the media focus on an FIA investigation into allegations of conflict of interest involving his Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, and his wife, Susie Wolff — director of the F1 Academy for female racers — that was then abruptly abandoned. Along with expressing frustration with the governing body’s handling of the matter, which has Toto Wolff considering legal action, Hamilton suggested it is a symptom of a deeper issue.

“I think, a disappointing week, really, to see the governing body of our sport question the integrity of one of the most incredible female leaders we’ve ever had in our sport with Susie Wolff, without questioning, without any evidence,” Hamilton said. “Then just saying ‘sorry’ at the end, that’s just unacceptable.

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“We’ve got lot of great people in the sport that are doing amazing work. There is a constant fight to really improve diversity and inclusion within the industry, but it seems there are certain individuals within the leadership of the FIA that every time we make a step forward, they’re trying to pull us back and that has to change,” the seven-time world champion added.

“This is a global sport and we have such an incredible opportunity and a natural responsibility to be leader of change — traveling to all countries around the world we have a responsibility to make sure we are pushing the right direction. I do want to acknowledge there are a lot of people doing great work but we need to make some change to make sure we are pushing in the right direction.”

FIA ends investigation into Wolffs as blowback ensues

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 …

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.