05 December 2023 , 21:21
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Susie Wolff lashed out furiously at the suggestion she and husband Toto may be under investigation from the FIA.
The governing body announced on Tuesday that it was probing an unnamed team principal and Formula One Management staff member. One media outlet suggested the investigation is related to Mrs Wolff, who is the managing director of the F1 Academy racing series, and Mr Wolff, the Mercedes team principal and part-owner.
But the team issued a lengthy statement on Tuesday evening in which it said it "wholly rejects" that suggestion. And now Mrs Wolff has made a public statement of her own.
In a social media post, she wrote: "I am deeply insulted but sadly unsurprised by the public allegations that have been made this evening.
"It is disheartening that my integrity is being called into question in such a manner, especially when it seems to be rooted in intimidating and misogynistic behaviour and focus on my marital status rather than my abilities.
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"Throughout my career in motorsport, I have encountered and overcome numerous obstacles and I refuse to let these baseless allegations overshadow my dedication and passion for F1 Academy.
"As a woman in this sport, I have faced my fair share of challenges but my commitment to breaking down barriers and paving the way for future generations to succeed remains unwavering. In the strongest possible terms, I reject these allegations."
In the team's statement, Mercedes said it was unaware of any ongoing probe until the FIA made its public announcement. It read: "We note the generic statement from the FIA this evening, which responds to unsubstantiated allegations from a single media outlet, and the off-record briefing which has linked it to the Team Principal of Mercedes-AMG F1.
"The Team has received no communication from the FIA Compliance Department on this topic and it was highly surprising to learn of the investigation through a media statement. We wholly reject the allegation in the statement and associated media coverage, which wrongly impinges on the integrity and compliance of our Team Principal.
"As a matter of course, we invite full, prompt, and transparent correspondence from the FIA Compliance Department regarding this investigation and its contents."