Susie Wolff Shifts Focus to “Encouraging” Silver Lining Amid Toto Wolff’s Big FIA Controversy

Mercedes head Toto Wolff and his wife Susie Wolff are fresh off a controversy with the FIA in a storm of alleged conflicts of interest. However, Susie Wolff, the Managing Director of the F1 Academy, is already steering her focus towards a brighter horizon. Susie has chosen to highlight the positive strides made by the F1 Academy, a program she leads. Dismissing the claims alongside the Mercedes team, she has shifted her attention to the triumphs of the F1 Academy’s inaugural season and the exciting collaboration with Formula 1 teams in the upcoming 2024 season.

As F1 teams unveil their lineups for the next season, Susie Wolff also underlines the significance of their increased involvement. She expressed enthusiasm for the deeper connection between the two series. In the wake of the FIA controversy involving her husband Toto Wolff, Susie remains steadfast in her commitment to advancing female talent and also to foster progress within the motorsport community.

Susie Wolff is extremely satisfied with F1 Academy’s 1st season as she looks ahead to 2024

In March 2023, Susie Wolff took the reins as the Managing Director of the F1 Academy, marking a pivotal moment for the program. Reflecting on the inaugural season, running parallel to Formula 1 for the first time, Wolff expressed satisfaction but acknowledged that there is still a lot of work ahead. The successful completion of the inaugural season, culminating in Marta García’s victory with seven wins in the 21-race series, set the stage for a more integrated collaboration between the F1 Academy and Formula 1 teams in 2024.

This enhanced partnership involves each F1 team providing a driver and a livery for one car in the upcoming season. This also helps indicate a deeper connection between the two series. F1 teams have begun unveiling their lineups for the 2024 season, featuring drivers like Bianca Bustamante at McLaren, Tina Hausmann at Aston Martin, and Lia Block at Williams.

Wolff emphasized that the first season was just the beginning, she told in an exclusive with PlanetF1, “I think we established a lot in one year. But like I said in Austin, it’s just the beginning. We’ve got next year to look forward to racing with F1, the involvement of the F1 teams. So I think we’re off to a good start, but there’s a lot more to come.“

However, Wolff’s vision for the F1 Academy extends beyond showcasing female talent, emphasizing the platform’s role in aiding progression. “I want to see our winner moving up. I want to have seen lots of development throughout the season from the drivers and hopefully a lot of awareness. It’s inspired lots of other little girls to consider motorsport,” Wolff remarked.

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Although it was a tough week in Formula 1 for the Mercedes team, there now seems to be a silver lining as FIA calls off the investigation.

FIA drops the conflict of interest investigation against Toto Wolff

The decision to call off the investigation came as the FIA expressed contentment with the existing compliance measures. The FIA clarified that they were not probing any specific individual.

This is also a result of the united front shown by the F1 teams, who publicly voiced support, issuing coordinated statements denying any official complaints. This solidarity emerged in response to reports suggesting concerns raised by some team principals about potential leaks of information from private meetings.

Addressing these concerns, the FIA, in a statement on Thursday, expressed confidence in Formula One Management’s (FOM) compliance management system. They deemed it “robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.“ The FIA also clarified that there is no ongoing investigation into ethical or disciplinary matters involving individuals. It was an emphasis on its commitment to maintaining the integrity of global motorsport according to a recent report from Reuters.

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So, do you think the FIA was too quick to launch an inquiry without even discussing the allegations with the Wolffs? Share your insights with us in the comments below.