Toto Wolff has singled out Christian Horner as the one Formula 1 team boss reluctant to fully support him and Susie Wolff amid an FIA probe instigated in December 2023.
Last December, the FIA’s Compliance Department revealed it was investigating a potential conflict of interest between Mercedes Team Principal Wolff and his wife Susie, who is Managing Director of F1 Academy.
It was alleged an un-named team boss raised complaints, prompting the probe which met immediate backlash not just from the Wolffs, but the other nine teams on the F1 grid.
The probe was shut down in a matter of days after Mercedes’ rivals each released a statement opposing the investigation, but Wolff has revealed Red Bull Team Principal Horner took some persuading.
Wolff told The Guardian there was a “great” response from the majority of teams, led by his friend and Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur.
“I didn’t make a single phone call to any team,” Wolff said.
“Fred took it into his hands and said: ‘This is just so unfair’.
“From [former Haas Team Principal] Guenther Steiner to [Williams Team Principal] James Vowles everybody jumped on to this.
“They were all ready, but for Christian, to sign a document in our support.”
Wolff: ‘I don’t think you can rely on what [Horner] says’
Horner’s reaction led Wolff to exclaim, “I don’t think you can rely on what he says.”
Explaining how the situation unfolded, Wolff said “As far as I understand it he said: ‘I’m having my own Sky interview and I’m going to say I’m not part of it. I’m not signing the document.’
“The other nine teams said: ‘Fine.’ But obviously he was advised that wouldn’t look great and he should be part of the statement.
“In the second iteration, he tried to get the word ‘official’ in the statement.
“He wanted a note to say that no one [among the team principals] officially complained to the FIA.
“The other teams said: ‘Fine. We do our declaration and you do your own.’ In the end, he signed it.”
In the aftermath of the FIA’s short-lived probe, Susie Wolff filed a criminal complaint against the governing body in March.
“There has still not been any transparency or accountability in relation to the conduct of the FIA and its personnel in this matter,” she wrote.
“I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call out improper behaviour and make sure people are held to account.
“Whilst some may think silence absolves them from responsibility – it does not”.
Coincidentally, Paolo Basarri left his position as FIA Compliance Officer last week, after allegedly being at odds with President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s approach.
READ MORE – Toto Wolff: Christian Horner trying to ‘stir s**t up’ with Red Bull F1 interest in George Russell
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