F1 teams deny making Wolff complaint | Horner 'surprised' by FIA statement

Red Bull boss Christian Horner denies submitting complaint to FIA over Susie and Toto Wolff as other teams follow suit Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and his wife Susie Wolff, F1 Academy managing director, are understood to be under investigation by the FIA: the sport's governing body is looking into "allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed" between the couple Last Updated: 06/12/23 6:16pm Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Christian Horner says Red Bull and AlphaTauri have 'nothing to do' with complaints made to the FIA alledging F1 Acadamy boss Susie Wolff exchanged confidential information to husband and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff Christian Horner says Red Bull and AlphaTauri have 'nothing to do' with complaints made to the FIA alledging F1 Acadamy boss Susie Wolff exchanged confidential information to husband and Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff Mercedes' Formula 1 rivals have dramatically united to deny making complaints to the FIA over the alleged exchange of confidential information between the team's boss Toto Wolff and his wife Susie Wolff, the head of F1 Academy. The FIA, F1's governing body, announced an investigation into the pair's conduct on Tuesday, stating its compliance department was looking into the matter.Susie Wolff, who is employed by F1's commercial rights holder Formula One Management (FOM) as the managing director of its all-female series, reporting directly to F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali, rejected the allegations as "deeply insulting" and rooted in "misogynistic" behaviour. The FIA has rejected any notion that the launch of its investigation has been prompted by misogyny, stating that it is following due process. Sources within the governing body have suggested to Sky Sports News that more than one F1 team principal raised a concern about the Wolffs. Horner has praised the job Wolff is doing as F1 Academy managing director With F1 and Mercedes having rejected the allegations on Tuesday, the other nine teams spectacularly united on Wednesday evening with the coordinated release of a statement across their social media channels denying the submission of a complaint.The statement said: "We can confirm that we have not made any complaint to the FIA regarding the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed between an F1 Team Principal and a member of FOM staff."We are pleased and proud to support F1 Academy and its managing director through our commitment to sponsor an entrant in our liveries from next season."Horner: Red Bull were surprised by FIA statementSpeaking live on Sky Sports News earlier on Wednesday, Red Bull chief Christian Horner had said neither his team nor their junior squad AlphaTauri had submitted an official complaint, and that he had been "surprised" by the FIA statement."We have a big rivalry [with Mercedes] on track but we haven't raised any official complaint either about Susie or Toto or Mercedes to the FIA. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Sky Sports Formula One reporter Craig Slater provides an update on the FIA investigation into the conduct of Toto and Suzie Wolf Sky Sports Formula One reporter Craig Slater provides an update on the FIA investigation into the conduct of Toto and Suzie Wolf "In fact, Red Bull has been the team that has got most involved with F1 Academy since its inception, to the point that between the two Red Bull-owned teams, we'll be entering three cars in 2024. So we've been working closely with Susie, who's been doing a great job on F1 Academy."So I think we, like others, were quite surprised by the statement that came out last night, but it certainly wasn't instigated or required or set off by Red Bull."We've not raised any official complaint or made any requests to the FIA or to FOM."As far as the other teams, I can't talk on behalf of others. This is an FIA thing, they've taken this action, but as I say, certainly nothing to do with Red Bull."Wolff 'deeply insulted' by 'misogynistic' allegationsDiscussions on the matter between the FIA and FOM are understood to have taken place on Wednesday. But while F1 is believed to have received a letter on the matter, Mercedes have not yet received correspondence on the investigation from the governing body.In the hours after the FIA's press statement on Tuesday evening, both F1 and Mercedes released statements, with the former claiming the FIA investigation was based upon "imprudent and serious allegations without substance".Wolff, who was the last woman to drive in an F1 practice session and was appointed managing director of F1 Academy in March 2023 ahead of the all-female series' inaugural season, then used her Instagram account to directly address the allegations. Instagram Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this Privacy Options "I am deeply insulted but sa