SUSIE and TOTO WOLFF vs FIA drama explained

[@haronforteau2842]

Thanks for the deep dive Kym, you explained it so clearly. Thanks for the great content!

[@KymIllman]

I try my best!

[@donbert]

It should be noted that this is the magazine that suggested that the W Series (the female racing program that preceded the F1 academy) would be more successful if they had the women wear bikinis and have more sexually suggestive content. When it was pointed out that many of the women were minors and the whole point was to take them seriously as drivers the magazine doubled down on its position. I think this is kind of history that makes Susie’s claim of misogyny understandable.

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

That is sickening but all too believable. 🤮

[@debi8494]

@donbert,Yup!👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻 👩🏻‍🦰💜

[@willdreon9558]

Also they said “boys will be boys” when Nikita Mazepin was accused of groping a woman. On a lighter note Lewis gave the I finger to, what imagine was the FIA bosses table, at prize giving ceremony 😂 he would surely say “that’s how I always hold my trophies’’.

[@tonamg53]

No, still not understandable… Susie statement was directed at the FIA on their investigation… not the magazine article. They are two totally different unrelated party.

[@GloomGaiGar]

@@tonamg53 Kym just said the paddock is well aware of the magazine and its editor/owner so yes, it is aimed at the magazine AND the FIA. Ben Sulayem or the FIA has never dropped any misogynistic comments or action before so why would Susie's claim of misogyny be aimed that FIA? Both parties may be unrelated but her statement was aimed at BOTH.

[@Jimmy_Moon]

What's odd about the article is that it's states, "team principals" as in more than one. Then a single TP saying "uncomfortable" followed by another saying "intolerabl". If you also take into account the editor being sued multiple times for defamation, you can understand that it was all idel gossip.

[@pietvanvliet1987]

I won't chair the Toto fanclub anytime soon, but going legal seems a very sensible thing to do. Considering the information that is available at this time, the FIA's stance and handeling of the situation has been unsatisfactory at best. Which can be expected of the FIA, when you look at its past.

[@CallieMasters5000]

For novice viewers, your past video explaining how F1 works is really helpful to explain all the different parts of the sport (F1, FIA, teams, team principals, etc.). You might want to do a refresher video (or even a short video) explaining how these different parties work, who has more power over the others and who's currently running each. Like the F1 vs. FIA, which gets the final call on everything?

[@markdonalds7735]

Sounds like someone in the FIA wants her position and trying to get her fired

[@Avto28]

The fact FIA was forced to drop the "investigation" so quickly is just more reason that authorities should investigate FIA and F1 together for all that they do with F1. The many, many years of favoritism towards certain teams with constant technical and regulatory adjustments to suit them is a very suspicious thing for an average fans perspective.

[@Avto28]

@@Redlingstein Yet he continuous to get away with it. I thin other governmental authorities who have the power to investigate FIA, French judiciary I suppose, should look into the whole matter as it seems the thing is being manipulated and the regulatory body is the one doing all of the foul play, together with team Mercedes I suppose.

[@bassistmike1987]

⁠@@RedlingsteinThere’s a lot of presumption in your comment. Unless of course you can prove Team Principles know Susie passed on information to Toto?

[@clansome]

@@Redlingstein What is this information that he had? You seem to have so much knowledge about it. I presume you MUST be an F1 team principal if you heard him. Also Susie didn't start working for F1 until February this year re your budget cap "allegation". If you want to spread bullshit first get the correct bullshit to spread. Idiot troll

[@samg8012]

​@@bassistmike1987if wifey isn't telling toto the info, then someone else is. Fact is toto has been privy to confidential info numerous times but until now nobody has asked the "how" question. Could be wife, could be the bosses of liberty. Toto is in real deep with them. Sometimes it's easy to slip up and blurt out something you are not supposed to know about.

[@pr3cious193]

​​@@Redlingsteinyou said he's let confidential info other team bosses didn't know about slip two times. How did you confirm that other team bosses weren't aware of that information at the time toto said it.

[@ISirSmoke]

video editor Jack is doing a great job, putting his own touch on the visuals gives an awesome custom-made feel

[@KymIllman]

He is excellent at what he does!

[@emmarichardson7322]

Finally, someone has explained. It seems to be a deep, deep mess and someone will come out of it badly.

[@KymIllman]

It was very confusing to me at first!

[@johniooi3954]

@@Redlingstein How many more times you going to post this? Sounds like you might be the source or just out to stir.

[@vyomakeshaconsultancy3406]

Well explained Kym whatever you do its done professionally cheers Mate Gowra

[@charlesberry4958]

Thanks for clearing that up. I didn’t have the mental bandwidth to piece together what was happening.

[@DXB711]

Congrats on 300k subs Kym and Team! Onwards and upwards!

[@vintagevinylvets1187]

Thanks Kym! The FIA has been a real pain, especially this season. As much as I hate lawsuits, in this case, I wouldn’t blame Toto.🏁

[@lenjka4160]

What a great analysis!

[@miltonbrownrigg8409]

I wouldn't want to be the subject of such insinuations. Thank you for the overview.

[@CuriousJet]

Thanks for your insight on the event, I found it confusing before your report.

[@KymIllman]

Very glad to hear!

[@SunshineSlopes]

That white-eared bulbul chirping in the background lmao. Tysm for the awesome breakdown!

[@markswasey4301]

Kym, I have waiting for you to do this story. Formula 1 fan since 1975, you are my favorite F1 reporter/informer/story teller/travel informer. I love all your content on and off the track. Thank you for what you do my friend! I'll watch the video in a bit😃

[@KymIllman]

Many thanks for that Mark.

[@baka1984]

Say what you will but how come for the Canadian GP in 2022 Mercedes showed up with an illegal upgrade and the FIA made a change that weekend that allowed for that specific illegal part to become legal. How did they know that change was going to be made as it was not public nor information given to teams in advance?

[@glenn5189]

all the teams knew it was being looked at to be changed Mercedes anticipated it would pass and made the part it was only a little metal rod to stiffen the floor edge

[@tbicks2822]

Susie didn't start the job until 2023, so this claim is nonsense.

[@carlosmakgato8404]

This is the best summary of this story I’ve seen. Thank you Kym. FIA definitely screwed up, but I agree, as a married couple (working in the same field) they’ve definitely shared info about their jobs. Knowingly or not.

[@KymIllman]

Thanks for viewing it Carlos

[@Housestationlive]

suzie finished 5th in 2004's formula renault uk, and was a test driver for williams in f1 during 2014 and 2015, not bad.

[@foryousten]

And funny coincidence, in 2014 Mercedes and Susie joined the Williams team and Williams moved up from the back to third, in 2016 Williams continued with the Mercedes engine, but Susie left the Williams team and Williams dropped back again.🦊

[@Housestationlive]

😂@@foryousten

[@garyeaton5719]

I’m curious, what if any confidential information could exist between an Academy for training and encouraging women into the F1 ranks and a team principal? And how this information might aid an F1 team over other teams?

[@nasrymatamoros1748]

Maybe forcing at a certain point f1 teams to have a female driver at least as a reserve driver. Who knows honestly

[@OlafsLeftArm]

I'm not aware of F1 Managements internal structure, but unless there is a clear boundary between general F1 related stuff and F1 Academy, then Wolff could have access to who knows what information.

[@Paul-Genge]

MONEY! 💸💰💰💸 - every team is putting cash into the F1 Academy. A lot of F1 sponsors are putting money into also sponsoring the Academy. Lets imagine that its not all equal, and some are putting in more than others.............might that be of interest if say Merc are putting in more than Red Bull for example?

[@johnqdoe]

It is not a question of WHERE she works inside Formula 1 Group. It is the fact that SHE WORKS INSIDE Formula 1 Group. To believe there is nothing to see here, and to look the other way, is naive.

[@f.kieranfinney457]

⁠@sidharthtirkey44 except the meeting did happen. That’s a fact. Horner is the only TP who has said he didn’t say anything. The other teams said they didn’t as teams but omitted specific mention of the TPs. There’s also evidence that info from their confidential TP meetings is leaking back to F1. Who else could it be but the diabolical power couple? We know Toto did this with former Mercedes counsel who was ‘let go’ by the FIA. Toto has long enjoyed a special relationship with F1 as the face of the sport along with Lewis. He and Mercedes are too powerful, supplying 40% of the PUs and controlling the narrative of the sport through media manipulation. It’s Really good for the sport to have them losing right now. If 2nd can be called that. I just wish it wasn’t the other too powerful team or worse, Ferrari, taking over. We desperately need McLaren or AM to win a title.

[@juliswift]

Thanks for this informative investigative video. I subscribe to F1 TV and recall a Team Principal's Press Conference where Toto said something (I cannot remember what) and the other 2 team bosses looked quite taken aback. It was near the end of the F1 season. It definitely was not Christian, Fred or Zac with Toto in that meeting. I will have to go back to watch those press conferences. Something was said by Toto and I think this could be the what started this whole rollercoaster.

[@Lewythefly]

Its still going to cause friction. Susie will at times be exposed to confidential information via her boss, team meetings, discussions with other senior execs. The conflict of interest is still there.

[@Leja27]

Yes it is

[@tbicks2822]

It's not a conflict of interest, as she has no power to affect anything related to F1. She just happens to sit in meetings where it is discussed. The only power she has is over F1 academy, which is completely unrelated to Toto.

[@Lewythefly]

​@@tbicks2822its not about power to change anything. I guarantee this will not go away as the conflict of interest remains. The teams may ignore it for a while but it will come up as a problem again. This is why professional organisations avoid even "perceived conflicts of interest" as there is no policy or procedure you can put in place that will stop it from being perceived that way.

[@medea27]

Conflicts of interest are present in every business & sport, and are fine if they are known & managed. Keep in mind that a mechanic who moves teams has a conflict of interest, as do two people in different teams who are friends off the track... you don't need to be married or have access to highly confidential info to have a conflict of interest. But most employment contracts have broad confidentiality agreements which apply to discussing business details with _anyone,_ so only the higher risk COIs need to be declared & approved. And while you can easily manage it (like ensuring spouses aren't in jobs that can directly impact each other), you do also have to trust people to do the right thing and know what they can/can't say around others.

[@Lewythefly]

@@medea27 And there in lies the problem - "trust". If you ask most of the other teams behind closed doors whether they trust Toto they would all say NO! So as I said, this will not go away!

[@kak7440]

Thanks Kym. I wasn't really sure where this all originated from.

[@john-9074]

Irrespective whether the FIA blundered, it seems inconceivable that’s the Wolff’s would never whisper information between each other. The pair are the very definition of ‘conflict of interest”.

[@velociraptor5962]

I think we were all confused. Thanks for explaining it in a concise no-nonsense way.

[@karolrosen9693]

This is the best explanation mentioning the sources.

[@KymIllman]

Thanks

[@videophile6761]

Thank you for putting “official” in context.

[@jimmcculloch3786]

Great piece Kim, though i would take very broadly your comment about Suzie being 'succesful'! I have always wondered how well received Business F1 magazine was in the Paddock. Thank you

[@cauxzieruffhausen9547]

Thanks for clearing this up.

[@KymIllman]

Glad it was helpful!

[@roger4880]

Tooto and Susie are married, of course they gossip to each other it is a given unless they are both angels and never discuss work at home. hmm

[@MatthewP-pr7st]

Apology? Just because charges are dropped or the investigation stopped doesn't prove innocence, just as making an accusation doesn't prove guilt.

[@tbicks2822]

They investigated a woman based on a completely unsubstantiated claim in a misogynistic gossip magazine. Of course she's owed an apology.

[@terryjoslin2660]

Could this just be to help the magazine get more readership, as it has its fingers on the F1 gossip 😊😮

[@KymIllman]

Possibly

[@eddypraet3536]

Remember the Porpoising issues and the adjustments that only Mercedes applied since there was apparently no other team that knew about the TD that would come in effect…

[@wertfreund2480]

Thank You Kym for the curricular report. 1.) When Christian says red bull hasn't stated official complaint it doesn't mean there wasn't unofficial "Backpanel talks" from him as stated in the Businessf1 Magazine. 2.) After all it shows the impov negative totalitaristic character of Ben Sulayem which impov simply acts shady in Form of dealing with his own failures, despite he also acts misogynistic . I as boss of FOM FIA had fired Ben Sulayem already a year ago when Vettel was gone after getting disciplined by Wittig for leaving a drivers briefing which his highly ridiculous by itself. but shows again the greed of power under Ben Sulayems leadership !

[@AlexGarcia-kb8lb]

Great video Kym and follow up to an issue of mishandling a situation. Maybe I missed it but I did not see something similar with the long list incidents between Mr. Marko and Sergio Perez. I think both the RB and FIA mishandle the last racist comments by Mr. Marko.

[@chrismuz]

Be that as it may, it is obvious that the situation presents a Conflict of Interest, and should be treated as such. It is surprising that it was not raised earlier.

[@tbicks2822]

Given that she has no power over F1 stuff, its hardly a conflict of interest. As long as you trust her to keep confidential stuff to herself (which she's shown no indication of being unable to do), there's no issue.

[@MrDamoreid]

Finally a balanced report without emotion. Thanks. Yes, the FIA has handled it poorly but no, the FIA did not instigate this as reported by other media outlets. It followed up on allegations (unsubstantiated) made not by it but by BusinessF1. There was similar discussions last year about how Toto knew Red Bull had breached its cost cap before any teams, including Red Bull themselves, knew and before the FIA had published anything about cost cap results. So, yes the FIA could have handled this incident with a phone call or a few emails but usually where there's smoke ....

[@DJKrowbarKE]

Good video, my take is biased, kindly ignore it. Love the set but the wind kept on distructing me. There are a few post production audio plugins that your team could have used to reduce it. Unless iit was a lot and that was the best they could do, to tally understood. Keep well champ.

[@Dani-it5sy]

Of course they speak to each other. Come on. I come from a cop family. I grew up around cops and on the cop station. And I can promise you, between them, more than enough confidential stuff is shared under the assumption that they can trust the other not to abuse the knowledge. I will never believe that any of them really says to their partner: Sorry but that's confidential. Besides that. What accusations !? If the FIA says the want to investigate something than that is not an accusation. Not guilty until proven otherwise. The FIA has let themselves be scared again by Toto's authoritarian and borderline narcissistic behaviour. O man that guy gives me the chills. 😨

[@KymIllman]

Interesting point you raise

[@saddist1Gtown]

You are speaking out the side of your mouth mate. On one hand you declared "Not guilty until proven otherwise" then turned around and suggested an investigation was merited based on an article from a nefarious magazine? Where's your morals mate? Funny how many of you here derides Toto but accepts the real cad in the paddock in Christian Horner the most toxic of all team principals.

[@Dani-it5sy]

@@KymIllman Thank you sir ☺

[@LVQ-so5th]

There is clearly a conflict of interest between Toto and Susie (which does not require wrongdoing, only the appearance or potential).

[@jameskiehm546]

What would be so sensitive between the Academy and Mercedes? Maybe I don’t understand the scope of Susie’s job.

[@tonamg53]

@@jameskiehm546Any advance knowledge of the direction F1 might be heading in is an unfair advantage to all other teams.

[@paullavallee1631]

The FIA should really be called Redbull

[@winstonchieng367]

F1 should not have appointed Susie due to possible conflict of interest. FIA got the right to investigate any concern & result is with all the denials they can stop the investigate. The Wolffs will try to take advantage of this for their own gains. Wolffs 1 day will ruin F1 or take over F1 without R&R but to their own benefits. Toto had always flexed his power & here he goes again.

[@obscuraapit]

It may not be nefarious but the couple are likely to have discussed their works at home bcz it is said that Toto mentioned RBR breaching cost cap before the it was made public and there's also the Mercs already having new parts according to new FIA rule change just days after the announcement.

[@donbert]

Susie Wolff was announced as the director of the F1 Academy at the beginning of March 2023. The RB cost cap break rumors were back 2022. Remember the breach was of the 2021 budget and it took them until well into the 2022 season to go over the numbers. Even if Susie started months before the announcement the timeline does not add up.

[@TheFarrukhzain]

can someone fire MBS now? Man has zero control or plan

[@tudore_jams]

On one hand, shame on the people who set about writing/publishing that article. On the other hand, makes you realize how some people just don't know when they've crossed a line. My suspicions are on someone paying that media outlet to publish this defamatory article. In any case, it was quite a rattle for the F1 world but hopefully merely a stray glitter in hindsight. Enjoyed your style of journalism very much, Kym!!

[@KymIllman]

Cheers to you.

[@psies2005]

So how did mercedes know in 2021 that there were 3 teams who where above the cost cap while there was never an officiel statemenent about this information... SPA 2022: the FIA instituted new 'technical directives' and allowed teams to add an extra rod from the chassis to the floor for support. The very next day, that rod was ready at Mercedes Just an example of inside information at team Mercedes.

[@bassistmike1987]

Susie didn’t even start this role until 2023.

[@elisabeth8739]

New technical directives often comes after things are ask by the teams, interpreting the « formula » and tinkering it is what makes team engineering department innovate and push the envelope so no need to have that kind of info leak to Mercedes for them to have a rod ready it’s because they already thought about it ! (And certainly other teams too !)

[@glenn5189]

exactly not hard to make a little floor stay out of a piece of rod prob took them 10 mins@@elisabeth8739

[@cyrilthompson1846]

Two different series F1 and Academy Different teams different series. How could anything to do with Academy affect F1?. We have ex FIA people working for teams who know more about rival teams than their own yet you hear little about that. They have to have gardening leave but that dosent mean they forget the things they have learnt prior to them taking a team job. Same with team Managers and staff moving. A lot of knowledge goes with them. The owners depend on their honesty and not leak past tech info but it is difficult if you know an answer and your current team needs it. I spent some time with a team in the 80s and you could see the old pals act with teams unofficially helping each other through their ex employee network.

[@ambarnaik7665]

Hey Kym! Loved the video. Very well explained. It would have been good if FIA had dealt this without any public statement. But how could Wolffs and Mercs actually sue them? Investigation doesn't mean defamation. Moreover, they never mentioned their names nor the name of the magazine directly. So based on technicalities they cannot sue FIA. Also why should FIA not investigate? They have every right to do it and probably they acted based on verbal comments by CH. CH says specifically they didn't officially complain. Officially is the catch word here.

[@tbicks2822]

They could easily make the argument that "media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel" could only (and fairly obviously to Joe Public) mean them. Could definitely sue.

[@ambarnaik7665]

@@tbicks2822 investigating doesn't mean defaming!

[@mushieslushie]

I'm not sure if it was stated what information was supposedly leaked, but I heard it was about Red Bull exceeding the cost cap. I'm curious though in Susie's role, why she would even have access to certain types of information? She leads the F1 Academy she should only have access to any confidential information required for that role.

[@Kimberly82Anne]

This has MBS all over it. He loves to create issues where there aren’t any, even when he was told to step back and stay out of the spotlight. 🙄

[@hipsterdoofus52]

What was the allegation? What was said and in what context?

[@ML-gc4rp]

Do you think this someone's personal vendetta at the FIA? Possibly the vague "Team Principal" reference was a re herring?

[@813Goat]

Considering the FIA never mentioned anyone or any team involved, how was there defamation? And just because they don't have a source to continue the investigation doesn't mean a conflict of interest doesn't exist. Either Toto or Susie need to step down from their position if Susie's role has her receiving info from F1 that could be a competitive advantage to know that info before the rest of the teams. I think a investigation is necessary to ensure her role in F1 doesn't compromise the sports integrity.

[@freddiefreihofer7716]

If Toto actually said something in a team principals' meeting which indicated that he had illicit insider information, it would easily be identifiable as illicit by the other attendees. They would then probably have acted upon it, as these teams will squeal each other out at the drop of a hat. But that apparently didn't happen, probably because nothing untoward had been said.

[@bassistmike1987]

@@RedlingsteinShe didn’t even start this role until 2023.

[@ziko317]

Whoever thinks Wolffs don't discuss confidential information betwen themselves is special kind of naive.

[@Marbeary]

The question for me will this issue be shown in Drive to Survive because it would be a great miss if this was not included.

[@KymIllman]

I’m sure they will find a way to include it

[@RetailRipper]

surely netflix and drive to survive will get to the bottom of this !

[@gary5481]

You asked Susie Wolff, when we would see the 1st woman in F1. To my knowledge there have already been 3, back in the 60's & 70's, two of whom I saw at Kylami. One a South African, Desirae Wilson, who is the only women to my knowledge to compete in a championship event & Lella Lombardy. I forget the other, but a quick Google search will confirm my recollection.

[@2lo4sno]

6:03 Way to use the B-roll photos to drive the FIA failure point home.

[@tundehadnagy2744]

If there is a possibility for confidentiality breach due to the slip of a tongue why do they even allow spouses to work in these organizations? There are many companies around the world who have clauses like the spouse or close relative of the employee cannot work for the competition etc. It is quite normal.

[@svenonnerstad1494]

Yes thanks Kym for the best explanation out there. Sleazy media are everywhere to earn a cheap profit.

[@bhagmeister]

Australia has their Murdochs, Britain its Rubython & Horner… I wish the Wolffs success in any defamation suit against the small and trivial Mr. Horner.

[@AlvinWillistonDavis]

Christian saying "official complaint" doesn't mean he didn't state anything. But the joint statement is a real blow for the FIA. Its almost like they have been targeting Mercedes for a while.

[@glenlawrance5570]

The fact FIA was forced to drop the "investigation" so quickly is just more reason that authorities should resign and clean house new LEADERSHIP NEEDED!

[@LC-tz2ex]

As FIA, best thing to do is share false information and unique information to multiple people and see what sticks. Due to the unique info, the source can be determained. Then you know that there is an leak.

[@karlgolles8202]

takes an ozy to talk sense, thanks mate.

[@sillycybin420]

"No Michael, no, no, no! That was so not right”

[@joeyf4837]

so every time Police start an investigation of a potential crime ,even when it comes to nothing, they need to issue personal apologies to the people being investigated? in which universe ?

[@peters5333]

Was watching the video and then I heard the name Tom Rubython. I almost spit out my martini. He ran a very glossy mag years ago (90's/early 2000's) Very hard to find evidence of it on the internet that it existed. I recall one Nigel Mansell was even guest editor of this rag. But where I remember that name was the Ford Jaguar fiasco when Bobby Rahal was Team Principal at Jaguar and was subject to a coup by Niki Lauda and Wolfgang Reitzle. Rubython was the chief source of info for all the goings on.

[@ChiliHotKey]

pretty obvious conflict of interest unless her role in the academy is severely blocked of from the rest of the company, and i highly doubt that (without knowledge of the company structure. she most likely is part of a leadership group involving all parts). this ofc doesnt mean she leaked anything, but its still a conflict of interests so she should have blocked from getting that position from the start. BUT if suszie have another "division" boss over her that is boss for a division that includes Academy and a couple of others than that person is more likely to be the one sitting in the more general head meetings, and the relay relevant info to suzie, then that would probably be ok.

[@Housestationlive]

i hope toto will be greteful from the spontaneous support from the 9 others team and will show a bit less "real" anger in its futures statements against its rivals. f1 is a family and he needs to calm down a bit, like ben sulayem only good at creating conflits. fia is not supposed to be f1 worst ennemy, they are partners!

[@winterflakes101]

Whether she is qualified for the job or not, there's really a conflict of interest. She immediately pulled the "female card" to detract from the obvious conflict of interest. I mean she is liberally sharing a bed with one guy who seems to get info earlier than the other Team Principals. We're not stupid. Her problem also is her husband has proven to be ignoring rules around information sharing and she has become the victim of her husband's reputation.

[@tbicks2822]

They started an investigation based on a completely unsubstantiated story in a misogynistic gossip magazine. Yeah, no misogyny here...

[@paulsven7923]

With Masi it got messy but since then FAI has been a bit second hand

[@Housestationlive]

maybe all of this drama will provide some promotion for the great f1 academy championship, this is a dscipline that i highly recommand to watch, because women are not affraid to hide emotions like men, and it's higly pleasant to admire and watch.female driver shows lot of respect for their rivals also, and competition looks overall more fair than formula 1. even is sometimes they're truely abusing of track limits, because there is no rules about it n that caterogy!

[@ElmoBHD]

Time to change the top of the FIA

[@dtoften]

Hard to fathom confidential info in F1 academy but whatever. Why is Susie is playing the misogyny card when nothing in the article said anything against females? Couples talk about work and gossip so I see a conflict of interest with FIA hiring her while Toto is with a F1 team IF she has access to confidential information.

[@_starter]

Nobody wants to discuss the allegations in any detail? Why. All we are getting is the charade that followed. Someone deep-dive the allegations please. What did Toto know, was is sensitive information or not, if so, was there a breech of confidentiality? Spare us the popularity contest and discuss the substance.

[@tbicks2822]

There is no substance. A magazine made a claim stating that a team principle had complained about Toto knowing confidential information, all the teams denied this. What is left to investigate? If we investigate every gossip story in magazines, we'll have no time for anything else.

[@mikehatch2114]

What exactly did Toto say that was confidential and only could have been known by an F1 insider ? I haven't seen what it is in any reporting including this one.

[@thainguyen8244]

Isnt this Deja Vu of 2022 when Teams Budget Cap information publically spoken by ToTo before official statement released by the FIA. Redbull publically complained about how confidental information was leaked from the FIA and people speculated Mercedes former employee being a mole in the FIA.

[@MathewBT81]

The team bosses are unofficially correct, there will be an advantage with this type of relationship, as that is just how competitive the sport is now these days. Where there's smoke... 🔥🔥🔥😅

[@CDNChaoZ]

Somebody probably made an off-handed comment or joke at some dinner and it just spiraled. Of course there's no official statement from any team or team principal.

[@tsheponcamane2018]

I think we should all agree that the FIA are displaying embarrassing signs of ineptitude

[@ApexPredatorWithSungGlasses]

6:42 "What does the FIA do?" Here's something better: Eat glue. 🤣🤣

[@seen48]

This whole deal is “all in the wording”. If that statement is true then Christian is the principal who “unofficially” told the FIA.

[@colpul2103]

Got to love Horner: "We've made no **official** complaint to the FIA." That is lawyer speak for not saying 'we've not complained or brought it up with the FIA'. Not an FIA can do no wrong type but I do not get it. Not sure what the FIA did wrong here. There was a 'news' article that made a claim, the FIA would be remiss if they did not look to see if there was any validity to it. If announcement of the inquiry were not public then everyone would think there was a cover up or that the claim had some 'smoke so fire' validity. The FIA made some calls and such, found nothing quickly, and then dropped the inquiry. It isn't like they can say to hell with due diligence. The investigation's conclusion was 'nothing there' we are dropping it. Wolffs were cleared in day and now no one can say they were guilty. So why is everyone bagging on the FIA? I feel like mostly these are the same people that would be forever commenting 'Toto and Merc are cheating because Susie is giving confidential info to help them' if the FIA would have ignored it or blown it off. Side note: Susie I hope that we have a top level good enough for an F1 seat caliber female driver by 2030; that would be so cool! However, that driver won't come from F1 Academy. If you are 18-20+ years old and still driving in a sub-F4 category its a hard sell that you will ever be an F1 driver. It is fine there is a series for women, hope they have fun. But, you want to reach F1 or Indycar you have to race against the best in much better equipment. How exactly is F1 Academy preparing drivers for F1, F2, Indycar, WEC...? The money would be better spent to reach Suzie's goal by backing 15-17 year old female drivers in F4 then providing those good enough to move up sponsorship in F3 or Indy NXT.

[@tbicks2822]

Starting the investigation based on no evidence was the issue. There was literally none. Whatsoever. "News" is an incredibly generous way of describing a gossip magazine. If they investigated every (completely and utterly unsubstantiated) gossip column in a magazine, they wouldn't have time to do anything else.

[@colpul2103]

@@tbicks2822 Well, again if they didn't look into it all kinds of bad faith fans would be take that as a cover up.

[@tbicks2822]

@@colpul2103 It sets a terrible precedent. If all it takes to be investigated is for a crappy magazine to make some something up about you, citing no evidence, then teams will plant random nonsense stories about others all the time. The kinds of fans who see a coverup here are the ones without many brain cells I suspect.

[@testpilotian3188]

Lots of gobbledegoop and legalese in those statements to try and do the mental gymnastics around this but the FIA without Max has been a shadow of its former self and shot itself in the foot so many times recently that is getting beyond a joke now.

[@_Ben4810]

Hilarious really... Everyone running around making such a big issue out of it (Craig Slater...no surprise there then 🙄), in the better old days Bernie would have simply told Tom Rubython to pay up a huge amount or else he, his staff & his magazine would never get access into the F1 paddock ever again. Simple really.

[@EvLSpectre]

This entire event is still weird though. Because all the ither teams came out and said we didnt file a complaint. And Merc was the team that came out and said we didnt share sny information. Its just not a good look doing that.

[@richardc488]

Susie needs to go to keep the FIA drama free or Toto needs to resign from Mercedes (which is no loss since he lost his way)

[@kennethmclennan905]

MERCEDES SHOULD DO A FERRARI AND THREATEN TO PULL OUT AND GO TO WEC

[@davidwarnes5158]

Wasnt that braun racing team .many years ago . A few differant car styles away . All teams have evolved . Rb did well for a few years . Then nothing .renault were on top . Williams . Ferrari . Who did braun take over from ?

[@charlespaugh]

You left out another unanswered part of this scandal: the day before the FIA dropped the investigation, MBS suffered a bad “accident” in which he “fell down stairs” requiring hospitalization. If this happened in a movie, we’d say he’d likely been threatened to close the investigation. FIA has said his injuries will curtail his involvement in FIA operations . His “accident” lends credibility to the belief that F1 and FIA want to cover up a potential conflict of interest to avoid scrutiny by governmental bodies and the betting industry.

[@413TomaccoRoad]

Oh dear...

[@doctorscoot]

what info would susie have ever shared to toto that would matter? i mean, the F1 Academy isn’t the F1? its not like she’d know ‘oh hey toto darling next year there will be a technical directive that says ’ ? its just speculation (scuttlebutt) and the way it was handled was absolutely piss-poor.

[@FredFred-wy9jw]

Been watching F1 for quite awhile…. Love the sport … but FIA has never impressed me as an organization with good judgement

[@nordimejia5790]

Sussie Wolf should not be envolved with FOM.

[@elzopiening8412]

Where there's smoke, there's fire. Both Toto and his wife can't be trusted in any way.

[@Housestationlive]

if you have to doubt about legimimacy of wolff's wife, you ablso have to doubt about red bull's sister f1 team 😄