Susie Wolff has launched legal action against the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, after a controversial inquiry into her and her husband last year.
The F1 Driver Academy managing director, married to Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, found herself at the heart of an investigation into claims of an alleged conflict of interest.
The probe came about after reports claimed other team principals were worried Mr Wolff was benefiting from information shared by his wife.
Two days after the FIA announced its compliance department was “looking into” the allegations, the federation said it “can confirm that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual”.
At the time, Susie Wolff vehemently denied the allegations – calling them “intimidatory and misogynistic”.
In December, Formula 1 and Mercedes – based in Brackley, Northamptonshire – denied the allegations, and days later the FIA dropped its investigation.
Speaking to La Gazzeta dello Sport earlier this year Mr Wolff said that the initial inquiry caused “great damage” and was “not what you expect from the world of F1”.
He added that his wife’s reputation had suffered even after the investigation was dropped, saying “the bullet can’t go back into the rifle”.
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Mr Wolff said that the initial inquiry caused “great damage”. Pic: PA
In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday evening, ahead of the upcoming Australian Grand Prix, Mrs Wolff said: “I can confirm that I personally filed a criminal complaint in the French courts on 4 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.”
‘I’m incredibly proud of Susie’
Firmly supporting Mrs Wolff, seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton – who has driven for Mercedes for 11 years – lamented what he called a lack of accountability in the sport.
Lewis Hamilton says Mrs Wolff has been very brave to fight the FIA from outside of a “world where people are silenced”. Pic: AP
“I’m incredibly proud of Susie Wolff,” he said on Thursday. “I think she’s so brave, and she stands for such great values.
“She’s such a leader – and in a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends such a great message.”
“I love that she’s taken it out of this [F1] world to fight it from the outside because there is a real lack of accountability here within this sport, within the FIA.”
The 39-year-old driver, who made the surprise announcement that he will leave Mercedes at the end of the current season and join Ferrari in 2025, added: “There is no transparency, there is clearly no accountability.”
The FIA has been approached for comment.
