Hamilton slams FIA for ‘unacceptable’ Wolff investigation،
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has suggested senior FIA officials are an obstacle to positive change in racing after an “unacceptable” investigation into Susie Wolff this week.
In the space of three days, the FIA opened and then closed an investigation into F1 Academy boss Susie Wolff and her husband, Hamilton's Mercedes boss Toto, following suggestions of conflict interests.
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This appears to have been prompted by an article in F1 Business, which suggested that at least one rival team boss had complained to the FIA about comments made by Toto during a meeting which could only have come from a senior F1 official.
However, in a rare show of unity, Mercedes' nine rival teams all issued coordinated and identically worded statements, saying they had made no complaints.
On Thursday, the FIA dropped its investigation, although it has not spoken to Susie Wolff about the allegations. The Wolffs said in separate statements Friday that they were participating in a “legal exchange” to find answers about how the case came about.
Hamilton, speaking at the FIA awards gala in Baku the same day, did not name anyone in particular, but said the governing body's leaders continually block positive progress.
“We have a lot of great people in sport doing incredible work, there is a constant struggle to really improve diversity and inclusion within the industry, but it seems like there are some people within from the management of the FIA who, every time we take a step forward, they try to push us back and that must change.
“This is a global sport and we have an incredible opportunity and natural responsibility to be a leader of change. By traveling to every country in the world, we have a responsibility to make sure we are moving in the right direction. I “I want to recognize there are a lot of people doing great work, but we need to make changes to make sure we're moving in the right direction.”
The FIA is facing growing questions over its handling of the matter this week.
Privately, the FIA has said its compliance department would not have investigated any matter without a formal complaint from a rival or senior official, but statements from other teams have raised questions about why the investigation was initiated. been launched.
In her first statement, Susie Wolff said the investigation was rooted in “intimidating and misogynistic” behavior.
In his last statement, she said: “I might have been collateral damage in an unsuccessful attack on someone else, or the target of a failed attempt to discredit me personally, but I worked too hard to have my reputation called into question by an unfounded press release. »
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is currently being treated in hospital after a fall, but will make a full recovery and is expected to attend the gala.
Hamilton also criticized the fact that the awards ceremony, which celebrates the champions of all FIA categories, was taking place in Azerbaijan.
“Even though I really like Baku, it's really a beautiful place, I wonder if the FIA really thinks about sustainability, because so many people came here when the FIA is in Paris and it would have been easier to stay there…
“But it's a beautiful arena, it's a night where we can all come together and celebrate all the achievements of the great people who work in this sport, all the incredible drivers that I wouldn't get the chance to see at the during the year.”
