F1 Academy Managing Dir Susie Wolff had "rejected the allegations 'in the strongest possible terms'"Getty Images
F1 Academy Managing Dir Susie Wolff has "launched legal proceedings" against the FIA after statements relating to a potential conflict of interest investigation that "led to her integrity being questioned," according to Chris Medland of RACER.com. In December, the FIA issued a statement saying that it was “aware of media speculation centered on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel." The statement came after a singular report that named Susie and her husband, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team Principal & CEO Toto Wolff, but two days later, the FIA "backtracked." Susie Wolff had "rejected the allegations 'in the strongest possible terms'" and then stated that she was going to "follow up to find out who instigated the situation, calling for transparency and accountability." She said, “There has still not been any transparency or accountability in relation to the conduct of the FIA and its personnel in this matter." She added, “I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call our improper behavior and make sure people are held to account. While some might think silence absolves them from responsibility -- it does not" (RACER.com, 3/20).
GOT YOUR BACK: MOTORSPORT.com's Matt Kew notes F1 driver Lewis Hamilton has "come out in strong defence" of Susie Wolff, "praising her efforts to shine a light on an organisation and sport that lacks accountability and transparency." Hamilton said, “Firstly, I'm incredibly proud of Susie. She's so brave. She stands for such great values. She's such a leader." He added, “In a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends such a great message. I love that she's taking it out of this world, filing it from outside, because there is a real lack of accountability here within this sport, within the FIA. Things that are happening behind closed doors, there is no transparency, there is clearly no accountability. How can you trust the sport and what is happening here if you didn't have that?" Hamilton's teammate George Russell adds, “You trust that the leaders in this sport have the best interest at their heart rather than their own interests… When we don't have the facts and figures, and there is no transparency, you always think there's something being hidden" (MOTORSPORT.com, 3/21).
