F1 News: Toto and Susie Wolff being investigated by the FIA

The wife of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said Wednesday she has filed a criminal complaint in the French courts “in relation to statements made about me” by Formula 1’s governing body.

On social media Wednesday, she confirmed that she filed a complaint on March 4.

“There has still not been any transparency or accountability in relation to the conduct of the FIA and its personnel in this matter,” she wrote.

“I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call out improper behavior and make sure people are held to account.

“Whilst some may think silence absolves them from responsibility — it does not.”

December 8, 2023

A pissed off Susie Wolff has put out the following statement after the FIA said the investigation of her having leaked information to her husband Toto found no wrongdoing.

And now a statement from Toto Wolff: “We are in active legal exchange with the FIA. We await full transparency about what took place and why, and have expressly reserved all legal rights.” Won’t comment now but “will certainly address the matter in due course.”

Going public with the compliance department’s involvement was not especially ‘fair’ to the Wolffs, Mercedes or FOM in throwing suspicions out there that ultimately proved to be unfounded, at least so far.

December 7, 2023

The FIA has concluded its compliance investigation into F1 and Toto and Susie Wolff.

In a statement it said:

Following a review of Formula One Management’s F1 Code of Conduct and F1 Conflict of Interest Policy and confirmation that appropriate protective measures are in place to mitigate any potential conflicts, the FIA is satisfied that FOM’s compliance management system is robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.

“The FIA can confirm that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual.

“As the regulator, the FIA has a duty to maintain the integrity of global motorsport. The FIA reaffirms its commitment to integrity and fairness.”

December 5, 2023

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff and wife Susie are under investigation by the FIA Compliance department for a potential conflict of interest.

However, Formula 1 came to their defense, and has said any suggestions of a conflict of interest between F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff and her husband Toto Wolff are “wrong.”

A statement from the FIA declared that an F1 team principal and member of FOM personnel were to be investigated following a media report.

“The FIA is aware of media speculation centered 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,” said the statement.

The suggestion is that Toto Wolff has access to confidential knowledge about the activities of FOM, which rival team bosses do not have, while Susie is well briefed on team principal discussions which can be of use to FOM.

This has prompted worries that supposedly secret conversations at team principal level could be being passed on to F1’s senior management

Formula 1 Statement

“We note the public statement made by the FIA this evening that was not shared with us in advance,” said F1.

“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.”

Mercedes Statement

“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 statement read.

“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.”

Full FIA Statement

Formula 1 itself has also released a statement following the FIA’s announcement and has denied any allegations of malpractice.

“We note the public statement made by the FIA this evening that was not shared with us in advance,” the statement read.

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.”

December 4, 2023

(GMM) Unnamed rival team bosses are aiming fire at a new alleged conflict of interest for Mercedes team boss and co-owner Toto Wolff.

Earlier, the Austrian was accused of taking advantage of his links with his former lawyer Shaila-Ann Rao, who went on to become interim secretary general of sport at the FIA.

And now, Business F1 magazine claims team bosses are again concerned about Wolff getting access to privileged information – this time via his wife Susie.

Susie Wolff is now a leading figure at Formula 1’s new female-only F1 Academy series, with the magazine claiming: “Team principals believe Wolff now has access to confidential information they do not”.

One unnamed boss said: “The information is flowing both ways from us and to Toto but of course we are not getting the benefit of that, he is and they are.

“They’re saying, hey, you know, we can go and have a meeting, an internal meeting, and the next thing it’s all over (Liberty Media CEO) Greg Maffei’s desk because Toto’s told his wife, who in turn has told Stefano (Domenicali), who’s told Greg Maffei.”

Another F1 team boss added: “I believe it’s illegal. Certainly, there’s a massive conflict of interest at public company level. And apart from that I believe it’s highly unethical.”

Susie Wolff Denial

December 2, 2023

Accusations have once again been raised that Toto Wolff has access to inside information that could give Mercedes a leg up on the pending 2026 F1 Regs.

As per a report in the Business F1 magazine, at the 2022 Singapore GP Toto Wolff received confidential info from within the FIA and leaked 2021 cost cap results to the media before any team, including Red Bull had seen the results

It was later revealed that Shaila Ann Rao (FIA Interim Secretary General) at the time leaked the information to Toto Wolff. She has since left the FIA, likely asked to leave.

Team Principals are also concerned that Wolff has access to confidential information since Susie Wolff is employed by the Formula 1 Group

A former team principal said: “Imagine that Geri Horner or Raquell Stroll were appointed to head up F2 or get a job at Liberty….”

[Business F1]

The report also explains why these discussions have been suddenly sparked:

At a recent meeting that included all the team principals, Toto had advanced information about a topic that came up which surprised a number of team principals.

According to a person in the meeting, Toto Wolff immediately realized that he had put his foot in his mouth, and his ‘uncomfortable’ body language immediately aroused suspicion.

Many say that Mercedes has advanced knowledge of the current hybrid era engine regs and this is why they had the dominant engines for so many years.

Can history be repeating itself with the 2026 engine regs?

Does Toto Wolff have a mole in the FIA, Liberty Media, or both?

The off-season may be more interesting than we think.

Fans reacted to the development, with one reacting in a similar fashion to Wolff’s Abu Dhabi 2021 radio to the race director, tweeting:

“No, Toto, no, that’s so no right…”

How the turntables…

— Two Seconds Ted (@2secondsTed) December 1, 2023

It’s nothing new just like it’s common knowledge there are many ex RB and Honda employees working at the FIA. It was obvious that Toto had been given cost cap info before it was announced officially at the time.

— Hedgey Hedgehog (@HedgeyHedgehog) December 2, 2023

This better be widely picked up by media as this would be just as big of a scandal. FIA personal leaking information to former managers.. YIKES

— Dennis V (@DutchyMN) December 1, 2023

water is wet… Seriously, is already forgotten the Pirelli Ilegal test, 14′ engine specs and a lot of other things? When the river sounds, it carries water… Mercedes had been involved in several controversies related with FIA…

— yagermeister (@yagermeister5) December 1, 2023