Mercedes & F1 Issue Stinging Rebuttal To FIA Allegations

F1, owned by Liberty Media, and the Mercedes F1 team have issued scathing statements in response to the FIA revealing its compliance department will look into a team principal and a member of the Formula One management. Susie Wolff, the wife of Mercedes F1 team principal Toto Wolff and the boss of the F1 academy, has also issued a statement criticizing the investigation and the allegations.

The FIA compliance department revealed that it is looking into an allegation of “information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from the member of the FOM personnel,” the world motorsport’s governing body said.

In a vehement response, the Mercedes F1 team stated, "We wholly reject the allegation in the statement and associated media coverage, which wrongly impinges on the integrity and compliance.” They added, “As a matter of course, we invite full, prompt, and transparent correspondence from the FIA compliance department regarding this investigation and its contents.” The team also expressed its confidence by saying, “We are confident that no member of our team has made any unauthorized disclosure to a team principal and would caution anyone against making imprudent and serious allegations without substance.”

The F1 organization joined in the rebuttal, affirming, “We have complete confidence that the allegations are wrong, and we have robust processes and procedures that ensure the segregation of information and responsibilities in the event of any potential conflict of interest.”

Susie Wolff issued a personal statement saying she was “deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised” by the allegations. She vehemently denied the claims, stating, “It's disheartening that my integrity is being called into question in such a manner, especially when it seems to be rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behavior, and focused on my marital status rather than my abilities.” She further emphasized her role and challenges as a woman in motorsport: “As a woman in this sport, I have faced my fair share of challenges but my commitment to breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations to succeed remains unwavering.”

The investigation was initiated amid reports that Toto Wolff received confidential information about Red Bull's breach of the F1 budget cap in 2021, which became a topic of discussion at the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix. Additional rumors implicated both Toto and Susie Wolff in the investigation, suggesting an off-the-record briefing that may have involved her.

The FIA said it was aware of media speculation but didn’t specify the individuals involved. The Mercedes F1 team added that it was highly surprised by the investigation as it received no prior communication from the FIA compliance department. F1 also noted that information around this investigation was not forthcoming.