The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has completed its investigation into Toto Wolff, the head of the Mercedes team. The inquiry was initiated following claims of a potential confidentiality breach. On Tuesday, the sports rule-maker announced that they found no proof to support accusations against Toto Wolff and his wife, Susie Wolff. Susie Wolff serves as the F1 Academy’s managing director.
Mercedes‘ Investigation Origins and Denials
The FIA initiated the inquiry based on news reports, primarily from BusinessF1 magazine. These reports allege secret information sharing between Toto Wolff and Susie Wolff. Even though both Mercedes and Susie Wolff strongly said it didn’t happen, the inquiry went beyond the initial news. Reports surfaced indicating that many team leaders raised concerns, a claim later denied by all nine other teams. Each team released identical statements expressing their support for Susie Wolff.
Meanwhile, after checking Formula One Management’s (FOM) F1 Code of Conduct and F1 Conflict of Interest Policy, the FIA said they are happy with how strong these measures are. In a statement, the FIA confirmed that there are measures in place to lessen possible problems and stop the unauthorized sharing of secret information. The rule-maker declared the end of the inquiry, saying there were no ongoing moral or punishment questions about any person.
Furthermore, the statement from the FIA reassured its commitment to keeping global motorsport fair and honest. The incident involved allegations of a compliance officer sending a letter to Mercedes and F1 simultaneously with the news statement. Mercedes vehemently denied this claim. The conclusion of the inquiry marks a significant moment for the FIA. The organization has faced increased scrutiny regarding its relationship with the business side of the sport. Despite rumors of Liberty Media contemplating a breakaway from the rule-maker, F1 has categorically clarified that such speculation is false. The clarification emphasizes the enduring nature of the existing 100-year agreement between the sport and the FIA. This ending closes a possibly damaging situation, allowing everyone to get back to the exciting on-track action that defines Formula 1.
