Susie Wolff in 2015

Emily Jordan

F1 Academy director Susie Wolff has taken legal action against the FIA after accusations of conflict of interest.

Susie Wolff, former racing driver and F1 Academy Series Director, has taken legal action against Formula One’s governing body, Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, following a slew of allegations that emerged in December against her and husband Toto Wolff, team principal of the Mercedes F1 Team.

Accusations Against Susie and Toto Wolff

The FIA accused Susie and Toto Wolff of sharing confidential information supposedly disclosed by the sports’ directing organisation, Formula One Management. A compliance investigation ensued and ultimately concluded in 48 hours.

An unsubstantiated claim published by Business F1 magazine targeted Susie Wolff. Wolff, the accused party, was believed to have shared advantageous knowledge that could be used as leverage for the performance of the Silver Arrows under the leadership of her husband, Toto Wolff.

Susie Wolff is the founding director of the female-inclusion racing initiative Dare To Be Different.

Legal Action Against The FIA

This humiliating affair for the FIA is the latest in a series of blunders that have occurred within the public eye.

The ‘human error’ of former race director Michael Masi that impacted the 2021 World Championship shocked the community. This was followed by past comments made by president Ben Sulayem, who stated that he dislikes “women who think they are smarter than men” on his personal website in 2001.

The accusation has generated backlash from the F1 community. The remaining nine teams on the grid shared statements of support for the couple, adding that they have no complaints about the working relationship of Susie and Toto Wolff.

Susie Wolff continuously denies these claims and filed for legal action in the French courts on 4th March. She stated that a lack of “transparency and accountability in relation to the conduct of the FIA” was the driving force behind her decision.

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

Wolff criticised the FIA for being “rooted in intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour,” revealing a deep-seated double-standard in the sport. The majority of headlines have focused on her marital status as opposed to Wolff’s lengthy career achievements.

Much of this conversation has overlooked her position as the head of Dare To Be Different. Furthermore, Wolff’s role would involve little-to-no conversation with those in managerial positions at Formula One Media, rendering much of the accusations null.

Gendered Standards In F1

The lack of consistency in the FIA’s investigative procedures has also been raised by fans.

A female employee recently reported alleged misconduct by Christian Horner, the team principal of rival team Red Bull Racing. The governing body subsequently claimed they focus on “guaranteeing strict confidentiality throughout the process.” They also stated that “as a consequence, and in general, we are unable to confirm the receipt of any specific complaint and it is unlikely that we will be able to provide further comment on the complaints that we may receive from any parties.”

Their response appears strikingly different to the ‘public circus’ that surrounded the conflict of interest investigation into the Wolffs. This has led to a series of questions concerning the differences in the way the FIA and FOM handled these complaints, and the links this may have to the considerable history of sexism in motorsport.

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Featured image courtesy of crazylenny2 via Flickr. No changes were made to this image. Image licence found here.

Final year BSc Marketing student at the University of Bristol. Student journalist with specialisms in entertainment, music and current affairs.

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