The extraordinary events of this week continue apace as Mercedes have stated they are in an active legal exchange with the FIA following a short but swift investigation against Toto and Susie Wolff.
On Tuesday, the FIA stated they were “aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking in to the matter”.
Yesterday afternoon, they released another one, saying that “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.”
The second statement came after a passionate response to the first one from Susie Wolff, F1 Academy Managing Director.
All the other teams produced a joint statement to declare they made no complaints to the FIA following a story by Business F1. They also showed their unified support for the former Scottish racing driver.
On Friday afternoon, Toto Wolff said that via Mercedes that they won’t be making any official comments for now as they are currently in a legal exchange with the FIA.
“We understand that there is significant media interest in the events of this week.
“We are currently in active legal exchange with the FIA. We await full transparency about what took place and why, and have expressly reserved all legal rights.
“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.”
Susie Wolff also posted a statement of her own on social media, declaring she will get to the bottom of who kicked off this “campaign” against her and Toto Wolff.
“My first reaction was: ‘Is that it?’
“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.
“We have come a long way as a sport. I was extremely thankful for the unified support of the Formula 1 teams. I have worked with so many passionate women and men at F1 and the FIA, who have the very best interests of our sport at heart.
“However, this episode has so far taken place without transparency or accountability. I have received online abuse about my work and my family. I will not allow myself to be intimated and intend to follow up until I have found out who has instigated this campaign and misled the media.
“What happened this week is simply not good enough. As a sport, we must demand, and we deserve, better.”
Photo Credit: Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team
