Lewis Hamilton says FIA inquiry into Toto and Susie Wolff ‘unacceptable’

The statements by Hamilton and the Wolffs are the latest developments in an extraordinary saga that has engulfed the FIA and its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem this week.

It started on Tuesday when the FIA said an “allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM (Formula 1 Management) personnel” had been passed to its compliance unit.

It did not name the Wolffs, although it was referring to them.

The statement followed a magazine article alleging rival teams had complained to the FIA about confidential information potentially passing between F1 and Mercedes through the Wolffs.

But on Thursday the FIA said it was “satisfied” F1 had measures in place to protect against such issues, adding that there was “no ongoing investigation” on the subject.

In the two days between the inquiry starting and ending, Mercedes and F1 had issued statements rejecting the accusations and making clear their frustration with the FIA’s handling of the matter.

And the nine other F1 teams all issued co-ordinated and identically worded statements saying they had had made no complaints to the FIA of this kind and that they were “pleased and proud to support F1 Academy and its managing director”.

On Friday, Susie Wolff said in a statement on social media: “When I saw the statement issued by the FIA yesterday evening, my first reaction was: ‘Is that it?’

“For two days, insinuations have been made about my integrity in public and through background briefings, but nobody from the FIA has spoken to me directly.

“I might have been collateral damage in an unsuccessful attack on somebody else, or the target of a failed attempt to discredit me personally. But I have worked too hard to have my reputation called into question by an unfounded press release.

“We have come a long way as a sport. I was extremely thankful for the unified support of the F1 teams. I have worked with so many passionate women and men at F1 and the FIA, who have the very best interests of our sport at heart.

“However, this episode has so far taken place without transparency and accountability. I have received online abuse about my work and my family.

“I will not allow myself to be intimidated and intend to follow up until I have found out who has instigated this campaign and misled the media.”

Mercedes’ statement concluded: “We ask for your understanding that we will not be commenting officially for now, but we will certainly address the matter in due course.”