Lewis Hamilton regretted on Friday that the International Automobile Federation “questions the integrity” of Susie Wolff, general director of the F1 Academy and wife of Mercedes team director Toto Wolff, briefly targeted by an investigation for conflicts of interests.
According to him, the FIA simply said “I’m sorry at the end”, an “unacceptable” situation for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, driver of the Mercedes team, who spoke during a press conference in Baku.
The investigation, closed on Thursday, was opened on Tuesday after revelations from the Business F1 media, according to which bosses of teams involved in F1 had expressed concerns as to whether Toto Wolff and Susie Wolff had been able to exchange information supposed to remain confidential . The latter is director of the F1 academy, the women’s competition administered by the FOM, the company which holds the commercial rights to the championship.
The Federation then made an about-face, assuring that there was no conflict of interest situation. But at the end of this “difficult week”, Hamilton found it “disappointing that the governing body of our sport has sought to question the integrity of one of the most incredible leaders we have ever had”, citing Susie Wolff.
And this “without asking any questions, without any proof” and by saying “simply I am sorry at the end, it is unacceptable”, he declared again, on the sidelines of the end of year awards ceremony. FIA season. On Tuesday, Mercedes “totally rejected these accusations”, concerning the “integrity and compliance” of Toto Wolff.
In a press release also published Friday on the Mercedes website, Toto Wolff indicated “being in legal exchange with the FIA”, awaiting “total transparency on what happened”, and also reserves the possibility of asserting his rights. While he indicates that no comment will be made at this time, he is expected to speak “in due course”.
Susie Wolff herself responded to Friday, she published a new message, the day after the announcement of the end of the investigation. “When I saw the FIA press release last night (Thursday), my first reaction was, is that all?,” she wrote.
She also states that “no one at the FIA spoke to (him) directly” during the two days after the investigation was opened. “I will not let myself be intimidated and I intend to continue until I find out who is behind this campaign and deceived the media,” she finally indicated.
Lewis Hamilton, for his part, wanted to remind us that “we are fighting to improve diversity and inclusion within the industry”, but “it seems that certain people within the FIA, every time we try to take a step forward, try to push us back. This must change.”
On Wednesday evening, each of the nine other teams entered in F1 had supported the Wolff couple, claiming “not to have transmitted the slightest complaint to the FIA”.
