Christian Horner questioned over FIA probe after F1 rival Toto Wolff accused

Mercedes denied Toto Wolff and Susie Wolff were under FIA investigation after they were named by one news outlet as being at the centre of a probe from F1’s governing body

Christian Horner maintains that the FIA investigation was not started by his Red Bull team’s official complaint regarding Toto and Susie Wolff.

Toto, the principal of the Mercedes team, and his spouse Susie, the managing director of the all-female F1 Academy racing series, were identified by Autosport on Tuesday as the purported targets of an FIA probe concerning a possible “conflict of interest” between their positions.

Mercedes later issued a statement in which the team said it was unaware of the probe until the generic FIA statement, which did not name the Wolffs, was issued publicly. The team also said it “wholly rejects” the allegations levied at their team principal and his wife.

It is understood the FIA’s involvement was triggered by rival team principals who are said to have grown suspicious that confidential information may have been shared. Naturally, given Red Bull’s status as Mercedes’ biggest rivals, some may assume that Horner may have been one of those to raise a concern.

But he denied having done so when twice asked directly by Sky Sports News. To the first question he responded: “We have a big rivalry on track, but we haven’t raised any official complaints about Toto, Susie or Mercedes to the FIA.

“In fact, Red Bull has been the team that has got most involved with F1 Academy at its inception to the point that, between the two Red Bull teams, we’ll be entering three cars. So we’re working close with Susie who’s been doing a great job on F1 Academy. We, like others, were quite surprised by the statement that came out last night. It certainly wasn’t instigated, required or set off by Red Bull.”

And when asked again if he could be clear that no-one within his organisation had raised a complaint, he replied: “We’ve not raised any official complaint or made any requests to the FIA or to FOM. Indeed, we’ve been working very closely with Susie on the F1 Academy – we’re the only group that’s going to be entering three cars into the Academy for 2024.

“It’s great work that they’re doing at the Academy and we’re certainly excited about that. As far as the other teams, I can’t talk on behalf of others. This is an FIA thing – they’ve taken this action. It’s certainly nothing to do with Red Bull.”

Horner’s interview sparked other teams to issue public statements on the matter. All nine of Mercedes’ rivals have now publicly denied that they made any complaints to the FIA on this matter.

In an emphatic social media-based explanation, Susie said she was “profoundly offended” by the charges. “It is dispiriting that my uprightness is being raised doubt about in such a way, particularly when it is by all accounts established in scary and sexist way of behaving and center around my conjugal status as opposed to my capacities,” she composed.

” All through my profession in motorsport, I have experienced and conquered various snags and I won’t allow these unmerited claims to eclipse my commitment and enthusiasm for F1 Foundation. As a lady in this game, I have confronted my reasonable part of provokes however my obligation to separating hindrances and preparing for people in the future to succeed stays steadfast. In the most grounded potential terms, I reject these charges.”