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F1’s governing body is opening a compliance investigation into Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his wife Susie
Earlier this month, a report surfaced in Business F1 magazine about concerns from other Formula 1 team principals about a potential conflict of interest regarding Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and his wife Susie Wolff, who runs F1 Academy.
Now the sport’s governing body is conducting an investigation into the matter.
According to the reporting from Business F1, rival teams believe that the Mercedes boss is gaining access to information that is unavailable to other teams, given Susie Wolff’s position within F1. One unnamed team boss told Business F1: “The information is flowing both ways from us and to Toto but of course we are not getting the benefit of that, he is and they are.
“They’re saying, hey, you know, we can go and have a meeting, an internal meeting, and the next thing it’s all over (Liberty Media CEO) Greg Maffei’s desk because Toto’s told his wife, who in turn has told Stefano (Domenicali), who’s told Greg Maffei.”
The magazine also highlights an incident during 2022, when Toto Wolff allegedly leaked information regarding the impending cost cap penalties that were levied that year on a few teams, including Red Bull. In addition, Business F1 reports on another incident this season, when it seemed that the Mercedes boss allegedly discussed exclusive information from FOM (Formula One Management) in a team principal meeting.
The FIA released a statement on Tuesday, indicating that an investigation was underway. “The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel. The FIA Compliance Department is looking in to the matter.”
The report also comes as Toto Wolff is in the news for another reason. At the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last month, Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr. was given a ten-place grid penalty after he struck a loose manhole cover during the first practice session, causing extensive damage to his SF-23.
In an interview with RacingNews365, the Mercedes boss indicated that he was behind blocking a penalty waiver for Sainz. “As a Team Principal for rival team that is fighting for P2, I need to look at the regulations and at the full scope of possible actions of ourselves in order to finish P2 in the championship,” explained Wolff.
“If the regulation says so, I need to act for the benefit of the team and 2,500 people. That will have a very big difference in bonuses, people would be free to act to the limit of the regulations,” he added. “If we lost the championship by five points because I have acted in sporting fairness, and the rules would have allowed me to actually penalise the car, I need to do this.
“And every other Team Principal will do it as much as it’s unfair.”
While the other team bosses might agree with him on that point, it remains to be seen how they — as well as the FIA — will feel when the results of this compliance investigation are announced.
