Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife Susie Wolff, F1 Academy managing director, are understood to be under investigation by the FIA: the sport’s governing body is looking into “allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed” between the couple.
Formula 1 and Mercedes have firmly denied claims that the team’s boss, Toto Wolff, and his wife, F1 Academy chief Susie Wolff, shared confidential information. This comes after the FIA announced it was investigating the couple’s conduct.
On Tuesday, Formula 1’s governing body released a statement indicating that its compliance department had launched an investigation. Although the statement did not mention the Wolffs by name, it suggested concerns about confidential information potentially being exchanged.
Susie Wolff serves as the managing director of the all-female F1 Academy, employed by Formula One Management (FOM). She reports directly to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
A report in Business F1 magazine suggested that a comment made by Toto Wolff during a recent team principals’ meeting had raised suspicions among rivals. The concern was that he might be receiving confidential information.
The FIA’s statement read: “The FIA is 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 into the matter.”
Later that evening, both F1 and Mercedes issued statements. F1 described the FIA investigation as being based on “imprudent and serious allegations without substance.”
Both entities expressed surprise that they had not been contacted by the FIA before the public announcement.
Mercedes’ statement read: “We note the generic statement from the FIA this evening, which responds to unsubstantiated allegations from a single media outlet, and the off-record briefing which has linked it to the team principal of Mercedes-AMG F1.”
“The team has received no communication from the FIA Compliance Department on this topic and it was highly surprising to learn of the investigation through a media statement.”
“We wholly reject the allegation in the statement and associated media coverage, which wrongly impinges on the integrity and compliance of our team principal.”
“As a matter of course, we invite full, prompt, and transparent correspondence from the FIA Compliance Department regarding this investigation and its contents.”
Susie Wolff, the last woman to drive in an F1 practice session, was appointed managing director of F1 Academy in March 2023, just ahead of the all-female series’ inaugural season.
An F1 statement read: “We note the public statement made by the FIA this evening that was not shared with us in advance.”
“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.”
“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.”
