Lewis Hamilton says FIA treatment of Susie Wolff ‘unacceptable’ after investigation into F1 Academy boss

The FIA announced on Thursday that it had dropped an investigation into Susie and Toto Wolff after finding F1’s compliance rules to be sufficiently robust to prevent any breaches of confidentiality; Lewis Hamilton criticised the sport’s governing body at its prizegiving event on Friday

Lewis Hamilton (R) criticised the FIA for their treatment of F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff (L)

Lewis Hamilton says the FIA’s treatment of Susie Wolff surrounding an alleged confidentiality breach was “unacceptable” and has called for change at F1’s governing body.

The FIA announced on Thursday that it had dropped an investigation into the F1 Academy managing director and her husband, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, over an alleged breach of confidentiality, after finding Formula 1’s compliance rules to be sufficiently robust to prevent any breaches of confidentiality.

The move came 48 hours after the FIA announced its compliance department was looking into allegations against the Wolffs, and 24 hours after Mercedes’ nine rival teams united in coordinated social media posts to deny making any complaints about them.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton, who drives for Mercedes, criticised the FIA while speaking in a press conference at the organisation’s end-of-season prize-giving ceremony in Azerbaijan on Friday.

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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater provides an update on the FIA investigation into the conduct of Toto and Susie Wolff following allegations of a confidentiality breach

“It has been a challenging week, I think,” Hamilton said.

“A disappointing week really to see that the governing body of our sport has sought to question the integrity of one of the most incredible female leaders we’ve ever had in our sport, with Susie Wolff, without questioning, without any evidence.

“And then just saying sorry at the end, and that’s just unacceptable.

“We’ve got a lot of great people within the sport that are doing amazing work.

“There is a constant fight to really improve diversity and inclusion within the industry, but it seems that there are certain individuals in the leadership within the FIA that, every time we try to make a step forward, they try to pull us back, and that has to change.

“This is a global sport and we have such an incredible opportunity and actual responsibility to be leaders of change.

“As we’re travelling to all those countries around the world, we have a responsibility to make sure that we’re pushing in the right direction.

“I do want to acknowledge that there are a lot of people that are doing great work, but we need to make some changes to make sure that we are all pushing in the right direction.”

More to follow…

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