In a striking turn of events, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has finally opened up about the FIA’s highly controversial investigation that implicated him and his wife, Susie Wolff, with whom they have a young child. The inquiry, which suggested improper exchanges of confidential information due to Susie’s role as managing director of the F1 Academy series, has been a topic of guarded response from Wolff until now.
Breaking his silence in an interview with Sport Bild, the Austrian team principal and co-owner didn’t mince words about FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s actions. “An absurd accusation was created out of nothing,” Wolff declared to the German magazine. He described the situation as a “personal attack” and a crossing of a “red line.”
Wolff, who has been at the helm of Mercedes for a decade, expressed his astonishment at the nature of the allegations. “After ten years as a team boss, I’m already pretty hardened and can hardly be surprised anymore,” he said, “but this story was shocking.”
The Mercedes boss emphasized his resilience to professional challenges but drew a firm line when it comes to his family. “If I’m caught in the crossfire, it’s no problem for me at all. I have developed a thick skin and can handle it. But when you attack my family, it’s a different level,” Wolff asserted, highlighting the personal impact of the investigation.
Adding to the intrigue, Jean Todt, the former FIA president, shared his views with French magazine L’Equipe. Todt, familiar with his predecessor Ben Sulayem’s character, expressed his lack of surprise at the recent developments, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama within F1’s governing body. “I know his character,” he declared.
