Forty-eight hours after announcing they were investigating, the FIA says “appropriate protective measures are in place to mitigate any potential conflicts” in F1; all nine of Mercedes’ rivals denied claims they had complained about the Wolffs, while also backing Susie’s F1 Academy work
The FIA has dropped the investigation into the conduct of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife Susie, the head of F1 Academy, after deciding they did not share confidential information.
The move comes 48 hours after FIA, F1’s governing body, announced its compliance department was looking into allegations on the matter and 24 hours after Mercedes’ nine rival teams united in coordinated social media posts to deny making any complaints about the Wolffs.
In a statement on Thursday evening, the FIA said: “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 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.”
Christian Horner says Red Bull and AlphaTauri have ‘nothing to do’ with complaints made to the FIA alleging F1 Academy boss Susie Wolff exchanged confidential information to husband and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff.
Mercedes and Formula 1, who Susie Wolff works for in her capacity as the managing director of the all-female F1 Academy series, had reacted angrily to what it described as baseless allegations and the fact the FIA had not notified them of the investigation prior to releasing a statement to the media.
In a separate statement, Susie Wolff said she was “deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised” by the unsubstantiated claims and that it “seems to be rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour” which was “focused on my marital status rather than my abilities”.
More to follow….
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