Wolff “very strange” response sparks F1 conspiracy suggestions. The breaking news in Formula One land this week was that the FIA was launching an investigation into potential conflicts of interest and the sharing of confidential information apparently between Toto Wolff and his wife Susie. She now heads up the ‘F1 academy series’ and reports to Stefano Domenicali who represents Liberty Media and its commercial F1 interests.

The FIA announcement of its investigation sort of came out of the blue, however story had been trailed by a certain media outlet associated with the former F1 supremo – Bernie Ecclestone. It went something like… at the recent F1 commission Toto Wolff had revealed something confidential that he couldn’t/shouldn’t know and thereon acted in a fashion indicating he was embarrassed and guilty.

 

 

 

Wolff/Horner exchange not the source of the story

It was surmised by others there was ‘secret’ information known only to FOM but because Toto’s wife works for them, somehow, maybe from pillow talk, the Mercedes boss had acquired knowledge he should not have been privy to.

Tobias Gruner of Auto Motor und Sport three rowed back on the idea previously reported in Germany that a conspicuous clash between Horner and Wolff in a recent F1 meeting regarding budget caps had initiated the suspicions.

“It seems that was not the trigger for the FIA investigation, as we initially incorrectly suggested,” Gruner posted.

“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 in to the matter,” was a statement released by the FIA on Tuesday.

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Liberty too swift in responding

Clearly, it referred to the Toto and Susie story first aired in F1 Business Insider. Almost as though aware this was coming – something F1 later denied – FOM issued their own comment on the matter shortly after.

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

Susie Wolff then issues a remarkable personal denial via social media making dramatic claims she was the victim of a sexist attack.

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Wolff  “bizarre” claims

“I am deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised by the public allegations that have been made this evening. 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,” Susie said.

Given the FIA made no reference to a single individual and all this was based on quoted rumours from junked sources, the vehement nature of Mrs Wolff’s rebuttal itself raised the odd eyebrow or two.

A smart PR move would be to say nothing until asked, and even then merely commenting on ‘wild speculation’ and ‘let’s wait for the verdict from the investigation’ is the regular way of handling the media.

Who on earth did Susie believe was intimidating and belittling her because of her gender? – was the question her dramatic rebuttal raised for those following the story.

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Mercedes demand “prompt” action

Mercedes are the next up to have their say, when again maybe following the motto ‘silence is golden’ would probably been a smarter play. The lengthy response to the FIA’s vague statement again prompts the thought process, ‘what do Mercedes know?’

“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 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,” said the statement from Brackley.

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Suspicion falls on Red Bull

Of course, the finger of suspicion immediately pointed to Red Bull Racing as the source of the complaint, given the enmity between Christian Horner and Toto Wolff evident almost each F1 weekend week played out in full media glare.

But Red Bull then issued their own statement denying any involvement:

“We are great rivals on the track, but we have not filed an official complaint,” Horner stated emphatically, refuting any involvement in instigating the investigation against the Wolffs, “neither about Toto, nor about Susie.” 

Further demonstrating Red Bull’s support for the F1 Academy initiative run by Susie, he mentioned their commitment to field three cars in the series under Red Bull and Alpha Tauri livery and support.

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Remarkable display of swift F1 unity

Then possibly the most amazing of all, each of the other eight teams then issued their obviously co-ordinated denials of involvement and support for the F1 academy.

Seriously. When does F1 ever act with such speed and unanimity?

So we have a huge row involving all the main F1 players over something that may be nothing over an issue of confidentiality which is hardly unusual.

Toto Wolff has demonstrated he is content to use such private information having accused Red Bull Racing of a budget cap breach last year – before the FIA even issued the findings of the financial audit.

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Wolff previously guilty of ‘inside knowledge’

Whilst this was never prosecuted by the FIA, it was subsequently revealed that the information had come from Shaila-Ann Rao, a former Wolff secretary, with the FIA proceeding to hold an internal investigation into the leak. The results of that were never formally published, but Rao was fired by President Ben Sulayem.

Red Bull Racing via Christian Horner have issued a statement of plausible deniability stating they have made no “official complaint.”

Yet known to few and buried in the articles of the FIA is a paragraph entitled: “FIA ethics and compliance hotline”.

It then states, “The hotline reflects out zero tolerance approach towards misconduct. Anyone can use it for raising legitimate. Reliable and documented concerns of misconduct.”

It concludes: “Please be insured that full confidentiality will be guaranteed throughout the while process.”

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FIA “anonymous” hotline

So in reality, any denials of “official complaints” are not worth the paper they were written on. 

Yet the spectacular fashion from which a nothing story escalated into a drama where each of the major F1 players find it necessary to comment upon leaves the indelible impression – ‘they all know whats going on.’

Further to unite the teams, particularly Red Bull and Mercedes along with F1 suggests this is the next step in the ongoing war raging between the  FIA and FOM, headed up by Stefano Domenicali who represents the interests of Liberty Media, the commercial rights owners.

Demands for “prompt” action from the FIA in prosecuting and making transparent this matter will no doubt fall on deaf ears.

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FIA president previously accused of “misogyny”

FOM have form in this area given they have yet to respond to the green light given by the FIA to the Andretti application to join F1 – now confirmed some moths ago.

The dramatic response from Susie Wolff has a prescribed air to it and the bizarre accusations at this time of “misogynistic behaviour” being the motivation are clever PR speak designed to raise the finger of suspicion towards the FIA president.

Earlier this year as the war of words escalated between the FIA and FOM some twenty year old comments were leaked to the media, allegedly made by Mohammed Ben Sulayem from a website not even available now or then on the internet.

Ben Sulayem was credited with saying in 2001 he did “not like women who think they are smarter than men”. This was labelled as “misogynistic behaviour” unsurprisingly as Susie Wolff now claims of her unknown accuser.

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Was the FIA setup???

Of course the obvious suggestion is this was a play from the FIA to attack Susie Wolff together with FOM, Domenicali and his crew. Yet the specific claims from Susie Wolff, the immediate response from FOM, Red Bull, Mercedes and the rest of the teams has a whiff of a highly pre-organised affair to it.

Is it the case, someone baited the FIA via the anonymous hotline as to a fictitious ethical breach, which then set the wheels in motion for the saga now developing.

Given the highly unusual unified response from the F1 paddock, the onus is now on the FIA to justify what was initially a fairly innocuous one line statement revealing an investigation had been opened.

Of course Christmas and New Year will come and go and the FIA will properly take its time to respond. And as was the case with the Toto Wolff/Shaila-Ann Rao ethics investigation, it will fizzle out some time after the cars hit the circuit in Bahrain for the 2024 season opener.

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