Mercedes explore legal action as Susie Wolff further criticises FIA – F1 news round-up
At the time of writing, the FIA has not provided any comments on this recent development. The team, meanwhile, has acknowledged their involvement in an “active legal exchange” with the motorsport governing body.
In addition to this, exclusive interviews with Christian Horner and Johnny Herbert are included in our Friday F1 news selection.
Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, has officially confirmed the ongoing “active legal exchange” between the Silver Arrows and the FIA. This follows the announcement of an investigation earlier in the week, which was promptly retracted. The investigation revolved around a team principal and an FOM official, reportedly Toto Wolff and his wife, Susie Wolff, F1 Academy managing director. Both Mercedes and Susie Wolff promptly refuted the claims, and all nine of Mercedes’ competitors issued a joint statement, denying any complaints to the FIA regarding a potential conflict of interest.
With the situation unfolding, Mercedes is now exploring their options. Toto Wolff, in a statement on Friday, expressed the team’s desire for full transparency regarding the events and has reserved all legal rights. He emphasized that, for the time being, they would not provide official comments but assured addressing the matter in due course.
Further details include Susie Wolff’s response to the FIA statement. Prior to Mercedes’ announcement, she took to social media, expressing dissatisfaction with the FIA’s conclusion and its reliance on FOM’s processes. Susie Wolff stated that insinuations about her integrity had been circulating for two days without direct communication from the FIA. She voiced her determination to investigate and find out who instigated the campaign against her.
Lewis Hamilton, who attended the FIA Prize Giving Gala in Baku, supported Susie Wolff, condemning the treatment she received as “unacceptable.” Hamilton criticized the FIA for questioning the integrity of a remarkable female leader without evidence and emphasized the need for better transparency and accountability in the sport.
