Formula One: Mercedes team principal's wife files criminal complaint against FIA

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff’s wife filed a criminal complaint against the FIAfor comments made by the top governing body of Formula One. In December 2023 Formula One’s governing body launched and then dropped an investigation into F1 Academy where it made comments on the duo. Susie Wolff, the wife of Toto, filed a criminal complaint against the FIA on March 4 and claimed there has been no transparency in the investigation laid by the top body.

Susie Wolff files criminal complaint

"I can confirm that I personally filed a criminal complaint in the French courts on the 4th of March in relation to the statements made about me by the FIA last December," Wolff said on Instagram.

"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."

What is the matter?

According to a report in Business F1 magazine, Susie, the current managing director of F1 Academy had provided confidential information to her husband and Mercedes team principal Toto. The report further claimed that the Mercedes boss was benefiting from information shared by his wife.

A couple of days later 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.”

Turbulent last few months in F1

The probe arose in December and had the F1 world in shock with a series of other controversies during the last few months. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was being investigated for alleged inappropriate behaviour after a complaint made by a female employee of the team. The grievance was dismissed on 28 February just before the season-opening Bahrain GP.

Horner always denied any wrongdoing but there was to be no respite. A day later an email was leaked to the FIA, F1, the teams and the media that purported to contain messages between Horner and the complainant and since then the storm has only grown.