Mercedes boss Toto Wolff’s wife Susie files criminal complaint against FIA over controversial conflict of interest probe
SUSIE WOLFF has revealed that she has filed a criminal complaint against the FIA.
The Scot, 41, was accused of exchanging confidential information with husband and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff in December last year.
At the time she labelled allegations “misogynistic” and claimed to be “deeply insulted”.
She has now taken things a step further by launching legal action.
In a statement posted to social media, Wolff wrote: “I can confirm that I personally filed a criminal complaint in the French courts on the 4th of March in relation to the statements made about me by the FIA last December.
“There has still not been any transparency or accountability in relation to the conduct of the FIA and its personnel in this matter.
“I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call out improper behaviour and make sure people are held to account.
“Whilst some may think silence absolves them from responsibility – it does not.”
A magazine last year claimed that rival team bosses had raised concerns that Wolff was sharing confidential information from employers Formula One Management (FOM) to her husband Toto.
Wolff is employed by F1‘s commercial rights holder FOM and in her role as the director of the sports all-female series, F1 Academy, reports directly to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
At the time, the FIA announced that its compliance unit had launched an investigation into the matter.
A 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.”
Wolff responded on social media: “It is disheartening that my integrity is being called into question in such a manner, especially when it seems to be rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour, and focused on my marital status rather than my abilities.”
The FIA dropped its investigation just 48 hours later, saying it was “satisfied” F1 had measures in place to protect against the sharing of information between the Wolffs.
In that time, all nine of Mercedes’ rival F1 teams denied making any such complaints about Wolff’s conduct.
And the affair left senior figures in F1 questioning the judgement of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
Lewis Hamilton then blasted the FIA for their bungling of the situation at their prizegiving gala in Baku.
It is not the only scandal the FIA finds itself wrapped up in, following recent allegations of inappropriate behaviour made against Red Bull team principal Christian Horner by a female employee.
In contrast to its public statement regarding Wolff, the FIA has so far refused to say whether it is looking into Horner’s behaviour.