Home F1 F1 teams rule out complaining to FIA in conflict case

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F1 teams rule out complaining to FIA in conflict case

06/12/2023

F1 teams have come in support of Mercedes and Susie Wolff as they rule themselves out of complaining to FIA regarding conflict.

The FIA shared a statement regarding investigation by Compliance Officer into the matter where there was a possible conflict and sharing of information between a F1 team principal and a FOM employee. They did not name anyone particular in their statement.

But it was linked to Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and F1 Academy head Susie Wolff after a report on Business F1 took their name while quoting some team bosses having an objection. The statement lead widespread displeasure as seen by the reactions.

Not only Mercedes released a statement, Susie released a strong one from her end and F1 shared one of their own where they notified that the FIA went ahead with their statement without any consultation as FOM stood by their employee.

With the talk that there was a complaint made by a F1 team for the matter to be taken up by the FIA, all of the nine F1 teams have come forward to deny doing so. It started with Red Bull’s Christian Horner declaring his team free of it on Sky News.

Not long later, all of the nine F1 teams – including Red Bull – released a similar statement where they denied complaining and standing by F1 Academy chief. It has been an unanimous situation which was last seen at a time of online bullying.

Red Bull (Christian Horner to Sky News): “We have a big rivalry (with Mercedes) on track but we haven’t raised any official complaint either about Susie or Toto or Mercedes to the FIA. In fact, Red Bull has been the team that has got most involved with F1 Academy since its inception, to the point that between the two Red Bull-owned teams, we’ll be entering three cars in 2024.So we’ve been working closely with Susie, who’s been doing a great job on F1 Academy. So I think we, like others, were quite surprised by the statement that came out last night, but it certainly wasn’t instigated or required or set off by Red Bull. We’ve not raised any official complaint or made any requests to the FIA or to FOM. As far as the other teams, I can’t talk on behalf of others. This is an FIA thing, they’ve taken this action, but as I say, certainly nothing to do with Red Bull.”

Aston Martin: “We can confirm that we have not made any complaint to the FIA regarding the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed between an F1 Team Principal and a member of FOM staff. We are pleased and proud to support F1 Academy and its managing director through our commitment to sponsor an entrant in our liveries from next season.”

McLaren: “We can confirm that McLaren Racing has not made any complaint to the FIA with regards to the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed between an F1 Team Principal and a member of FOM staff. We are pleased and proud to support F1 Academy and its Managing Director through our commitment to sponsor an entrant in our livery from next season.”

Alpine: