Toto Wolff vs. FIA: Behind F1's Power Struggle

Formula 1 teams have collectively denied making complaints about the behavior of Toto and Susie Wolff following an inquiry launched by the FIA into allegations that their relationship poses a conflict of interest in the sport.

The FIA’s investigation was triggered by claims from Business F1 magazine, suggesting that rival team principals raised concerns about potential confidential information exchange between Mercedes, led by Toto Wolff, and F1 through the Wolffs.

In identically worded statements, all nine teams, excluding Mercedes, clarified, “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 [F1] staff.” Additionally, they supported the F1 Academy and its managing director, Susie Wolff, dismissing any concerns raised in the article.

As the subject of the allegations, Mercedes refrained from filing a complaint against their team principal. The FIA has yet to respond to the teams’ statements.

This controversy adds a layer of complexity to the already strained relations between Toto Wolff and FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. Sources within F1 suggest that the dispute stems from Wolff’s recent interventions in key F1 matters, both publicly and in private, which Ben Sulayem reportedly disapproved of.

Susie Wolff responded to the allegations on social media, expressing her deep disappointment and labeling the claims as “intimidatory and misogynistic.” The FIA referred the matter to its compliance unit, with both Mercedes and F1 issuing statements rejecting the accusations and expressing frustration with the FIA’s handling of the situation.

The background of this conflict includes a broader deterioration in relations between F1 and the FIA on multiple fronts. Ben Sulayem’s decision to step back from direct involvement in F1 in February did not quell tensions, as incidents involving key figures in the sport continued, with the latest being the summoning of Toto Wolff and Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur to the stewards for swearing in a news conference during the final race of the season. The ongoing disputes suggest a complex power struggle within the F1 hierarchy that goes beyond the specific allegations against the Wolffs.