SUSIE WOLFF has slammed allegations that she exchanged confidential information with husband and Mercedes team principal Toto as “misogynistic”.
A report in Business F1 magazine claimed rival team bosses had raised concerns that Wolff was sharing confidential information from her employer Formula One Management (FOM).
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.
On Tuesday, the FIA announced its compliance unit had opened an investigation into the pair’s conduct relating to the claims.
The FIA statement said: “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.”
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Neither party were named by the FIA in the statement, but both Wolff and Mercedes F1 rebutted the claims.
In a social media post, Wolff, 41, said she was “deeply insulted but sadly not surprised” by the allegations.
She added: “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.”
Meanwhile, a Mercedes spokesperson said: “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.
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“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.”
A further statement from F1 said they had not been briefed on the governing body’s statement before its release.
An F1 spokesperson added: “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 unauthorised disclosure to a team principal and would caution anyone against making imprudent and serious allegations without substance.”
Wolff was the last woman to drive in an F1 practice session and was appointed the director of F1 Academy in March 2023.
She married Toto in 2011, several years after first meeting, in a Capri wedding.
The pair have a son together named Jack.
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Source: Motorsport - thesun.co.uk
