Ahead of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend, Susie Wolff, the managing director of the F1 Academy, revealed that she has taken legal action against the FIA, the governing body of Formula 1, in French courts.
The FIA began investigating Susie Wolff and her husband, Toto Wolff, who is the boss of Mercedes Motorsport, in December. They were looking into a possible conflict of interest because of their relationship. Some F1 team bosses complained that they shared secret information.
But many people in the F1 world supported Susie Wolff and said they didn’t complain to the FIA. This made the FIA stop its investigation.
Now, Susie Wolff has decided to take action.
“There has still not been any transparency or accountability about the conduct of the FIA and its personnel in this matter,” she wrote.
“I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call out improper behavior, and make sure people are held to account. Whilst some may think silence absolves them from responsibility – it does not.”
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion, praised Susie Wolff’s courage and efforts to bring attention to the lack of accountability and transparency in the sport.
Hamilton said, “Firstly, I’m incredibly proud of Susie. She’s so brave. She stands for such great values. She’s such a leader.”
Hamilton also talked about the need for transparency and accountability in the sport. He hoped that Susie Wolff’s actions would lead to positive changes, especially for women in F1.
George Russell, Hamilton’s teammate, also emphasized the importance of transparency in the sport. He said that without transparency, people might feel like something is being hidden.
“That’s why it’s so important for the sport now to send the right message to everybody who’s supporting Formula 1, watching Formula 1, wants to be involved in Formula 1, that things aren’t just swept under the carpet,” Russell said.
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