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F1 News: Mercedes Launch "Legal Exchange" With FIA Following Dropped Investigation

Mercedes CEO Toto Wolff has addressed the closed investigation from the FIA.

Lydia Mee

F1 News: Mercedes Launch "Legal Exchange" With FIA Following Dropped Investigation
F1 News: Mercedes Launch "Legal Exchange" With FIA Following Dropped Investigation /

Mercedes CEO and team principal Toto Wolff has released a statement to confirm they have launched a "legal exchange" with the FIA following the dropped investigation into him and F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff.

Earlier this week, the FIA launched an investigation into the Wolffs for an alleged conflict of interest. The report from Business F1 claimed that complaints had come to the FIA from other Formula One team principals. The supposed complaints reportedly claimed that Toto Wolff was gaining inside information from Susie Wolff who, as F1 Academy managing director, reports directly to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali. 

Toto Wolff - Mercedes

However, all nine other F1 teams released statements to confirm they had not made any complaints to the FIA, standing behind the Wolffs. The statement read:

"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."

Susie Wolff - F1 Academy

Yesterday, the FIA confirmed that the investigation had now been dropped. However, both Susie Wolff and Toto Wolff have released statements, with the Mercedes CEO confirming he has launched legal action with the FIA. The statement from Toto Wolff reads:

"We understand that there is significant media interest in the events of this week. 

"We are currently in active legal exchange with the FIA. 

"We await full transparency about what took place and why, and have expressly reserved all legal rights. 

"Therefore we ask for your understanding that we will not be commenting officially for now, but we will certainly address the matter in due course."

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Lydia Mee
LYDIA MEE

Lydia is the lead editor of F1 editorial. After following the sport for several years, she was finally able to attend the British Grand Prix in person in 2017. Since then, she's been addicted to not only the racing, but the atmosphere the fans bring to each event. She's a strong advocate for women in motorsport and a more diverse industry. 

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