Susie Wolff, a prominent figure in motorsport and wife of Mercedes F1 boss Toto, revealed on Wednesday that she had filed a criminal complaint in France against the FIA over an investigation into a conflict of interest last year.
Wolff made this announcement after FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem was cleared by the ethics committee of alleged interference in two races last year.
Ahead of the upcoming Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, Mercedes driver Hamilton expressed his immense admiration for Wolff and praised her courage for speaking out in a world where people are often silenced.
“I also appreciate her decision to take this issue out of the realm of this world because there is a clear lack of accountability within this sport, the FIA, and undisclosed actions that happen behind closed doors,” he conveyed to journalists in the Albert Park paddock on Thursday.
“There is a complete lack of transparency and accountability. We urgently need that. I believe the fans also need that. How can we trust the sport and what happens within it?” questioned the British driver.
Reuters reached out to the FIA for comment on Wolff’s legal action and Hamilton’s comments, but did not receive an immediate response on Thursday.
In December, the FIA launched an investigation into the Wolffs following a magazine article alleging that a team manager had obtained confidential information from a commercial rights holder employee.
However, the investigation was quickly halted after the other nine F1 teams issued statements expressing their support for Susie Wolff.
Wolff’s legal action follows internal turmoil at the Red Bull F1 team, where team principal Christian Horner was cleared of misconduct following a complaint from a staff member.
According to reports from the British media, the unidentified woman was suspended after her complaint was rejected by an independent investigation, but she is currently appealing the outcome.
The FIA has not yet confirmed reports that she also filed an official complaint with them.
Hamilton expressed his hope that Wolff’s legal action can bring about change and have a positive impact on F1, especially for women.
“It is still a male-dominated sport, and we find ourselves in a moment where the message being conveyed is: if you speak up, you will lose your job,” he added.
“And that is a terrible narrative to project to the world, especially when we are advocating for inclusion in the sport. We must remain true to our core principles,” he clarified.
Mercedes driver George Russell echoed his teammate’s call for transparency in the decision-making process of F1 authorities.
I believe it is incredibly crucial for the sport, as Lewis mentioned, to send the right message to all those who support Formula 1... that issues are not simply swept under the rug,” Russell observed. (Reporting by Ian Ransom)
