F1 News
Hamilton lashes out sharply at FIA leaders: 'That's unacceptable'
- Ludo van Denderen
The winter break is in full swing in Formula 1, but the sport has been in the spotlight in recent days. The FIA had launched an investigation into the integrity of Toto Wolff (team boss Mercedes) and his wife (managing director F1 Academy), an investigation that was dropped just two days later. That did not settle the matter at all: Susie is still very angry about the course of events, while Toto has revealed that a legal battle is underway with the FIA.
Toto and Susie Wolff are not present in Baku this Friday, where the annual FIA Prize Giving gala is. Lewis Hamilton is present there. During an interview with the media there, the Brit emphatically stood up for the Wolff family, only to then also be highly critical of the international motorsport federation's actions.
Hamilton surprised by FIA
First of all, Hamilton questioned the FIA about hosting it in Baku. "Baku is really a beautiful place. I have questions in my mind about whether the FIA is really actually thinking about sustainability because so many people flew out here when the FIA is actually in Paris. It would have just been easy to have had it there. But it's a beautiful arena. It's a night that we all get to come together and celebrate all the amazing achievements of all the great people that are working within the sport. All the amazing drivers that I wouldn't get to see during the year as well."
Hamilton very angry about FIA's actions
Hamilton then addressed the row surrounding his team boss and his wife. In doing so, he lashed out sharply. "It has been a challenging week. 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. That's just unacceptable."
"So, 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're trying to pull us back. That has to change. This is a global sport. And we have such an incredible opportunity and responsibility to be leaders of change. As we're traveling to all those countries around the world we have the responsibility to make sure that we push it in the right direction. So, I do want to acknowledge that there are a lot of people out there who are doing great work. But we need to make some change to make sure that we're all pushing in the right direction."