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A long, crazy week of F1 news comes to a close
A whirlwind multi-day news cycle in Formula 1 has come to an end.
At least for the moment.
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), F1’s governing body, announced on Thursday that a compliance investigation into allegations of confidential information being shared with a team principal has ended. According to a statement from the FIA, they are “satisfied” that their current compliance system is “robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.”
In addition, the FIA confirmed “that there is no ongoing investigation in terms of ethical or disciplinary inquiries involving any individual.”
You can see the entire statement here:
Después de reporte de FOM a FIA sobre las medidas aplicadas para evitar potenciales conflictos de intereses, FIA dice que no hay ninguna investigación en proceso en terminos de ética o disciplina que afecte a ninguna persona.
Con esto se intenta cerrar el conflicto entre F1/FIA pic.twitter.com/9gZfydctB9
— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) December 7, 2023
Earlier this week, the FIA put out a statement indicating that a compliance investigation was underway concerning allegations of a breach of confidential information between Formula One Management (FOM) and an F1 team principal. At the center of these allegations were Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, and his wife Susie, the Managing Director of F1 Academy.
That statement was issued following reporting from BusinessF1 magazine, that alleged various team principals raised such concerns. Following the FIA’s statement, fierce denials were issued by both Mercedes and Susie Wolff, and FOM also issued a statement indicating that the FIA investigation was being conducted without their knowledge:
“We have complete confidence that the allegations are wrong, and we have robust processes and procedures that ensure the segregation of information and responsibilities in the event of any potential conflict of interest.
“We are confident that no member of our team has made any unauthorised disclosure to a team principal and would caution anyone against making imprudent and serious allegations without substance.”
Additional reporting claimed yesterday that the FIA was tipped off to the allegations by a team principal. That prompted further denials, as all nine of Mercedes’ rivals issued statement both denying that allegations, and throwing their support behind Susie Wolff as the Managing Director of F1 Academy:
Now, this matter has been put to bed.
For the moment.
However, it might not be the final chapter to this tale. In the wake of FIA’s initial statement regarding a compliance investigation, reporting from BBC Sport indicated that the statement was putting increased pressure on the relationship between the governing body, and F1.
Andrew Benson of BBC Sport on Tuesday evening reported that FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem may be on thin ice. As Benson wrote on Tuesday, “[a] number of sources told BBC Sport at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last month that if Ben Sulayem continued to act in a manner senior figures considered to be detrimental to the sport, F1 owners Liberty Media would lose patience and consider breaking away from the FIA.”
However, Benson indicated that the relationship between the FIA and F1 was “smoothed over” when such a move was considered at the end of the 2022 season.
This chapter is the latest in the tension between President Ben Sulayem and F1, and F1 ownership. Last spring, President Ben Sulayem pushed back on the notion of F1 being for sale, and cautioned against the idea of a $20 billion price tag.
That valuation prompted a harsh rebuke from Liberty Media, F1’s current ownership group. In a letter sent to the FIA from F1’s chief legal officer Sacha Woodward Hill, and Liberty’s chief legal officer Renee Wilm, the comments from president Ben Sulayem were “unacceptable,” and “overstep the bounds of both the FIA’s remit and its contractual rights.”
The letter also referenced an agreement between F1 and FIA, wherein F1 “…has the exclusive right to exploit the commercial rights in the FIA Formula One World Championship.”
Further, President Ben Sulayem has been at the forefront of potential F1 expansion, expressing his support for the proposed Andretti-Cadillac team in their effort to join the grid. Multiple current F1 bosses — including Toto Wolff — have made their reservations clear on that matter.
So while this chapter of the story might have come to a close, some pages seem yet to be written.
