Formula 1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff has confirmed that her legal case against the FIA for alleged defamation remains very much alive, nearly two years after a controversial conflict-of-interest probe threatened to derail her career.
Speaking to The Times, Wolff's unyielding resolve underscores a fight that is as much about personal vindication as it is about calling out institutional overreach.
The saga erupted in December 2023 when the FIA launched a lightning-fast investigation into whether Susie Wolff's role at F1's all-female development series clashed with her husband's position at Mercedes, potentially breaching conflict-of-interest rules.
The probe, sparked by anonymous whispers in the paddock claiming that confidential information was being passed between the Wolffs, lasted just 48 hours before being abruptly shelved.
Yet for Wolff, the fleeting inquiry unleashed a torrent of media scrutiny that she says shredded her professional reputation overnight.
What began at the time as a vague FIA statement about reviewing "compliance" quickly snowballed into a PR nightmare for the sport. Nine of the 10 F1 teams swiftly issued near-identical denials, insisting they had lodged no complaints about the Wolffs.
But the damage was swift and severe. Headlines questioned Wolff's integrity, casting shadows over her pioneering work in promoting women in racing.
In the wake of the uproar, the FIA issued a curt follow-up:
“Following a review of Formula One Management’s F1 code of conduct and F1 conflict of interest policy and confirmation that appropriate protective measures are in place to mitigate any potential conflicts, the FIA is satisfied that FOM’s compliance management system is robust enough to prevent any unauthorized disclosure of confidential information.”
For Wolff, that wasn't enough. She refused to let the episode fade into the footnotes of F1 folklore.
"I refused to be treated that way," she told "It created a huge amount of articles doubting my integrity."
Her decision to pursue legal action for defamation in early 2024 sent ripples through the sport, with supporters like then-Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton praising her courage.
As the case dragged into 2025 with no resolution in sight, Wolff's latest update reaffirms her commitment to seeing it through.
Neither side has shared a timeline for closure, leaving the paddock in the dark as the 2025 season hurtles toward its finale. The FIA has stayed mum since its initial clearance, but Wolff's persistence signals she's not backing down.
"People can have their opinions on [whether] what I do is good or not," she continued in her interview. "But that’s something I won’t allow to happen, that people attack my integrity."
The "ongoing process," as Wolff describes it, arrives at a tense moment for F1 governance. With whispers of internal FIA reforms and ongoing debates about transparency, her battle could force a reckoning on how allegations are handled in the spotlight of global racing.
For a woman who's shattered barriers – from test driver to F1 Academy architect – this isn't just litigation; it's a stand against the kind of scrutiny that too often targets trailblazers.
As Wolff eyes the horizon, her message is clear: in the fast lane of Formula 1, integrity isn't optional – it's non-negotiable.
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