Mercedes nine rival teams have all issued statements denying that they have ever questioned a conflict of interest in terms of the roles of Toto and Susie Wolff in the sport.

Earlier this week the sport was rocked by the news that the FIA is to investigate a possible conflict of interest following a story in Business F1 magazine.

It was claimed that in her role as head of the F1 Academy, and therefore an employee of FOM, Susie Wolff may have shared privileged information with her husband, Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff.

F1, Mercedes and Susie Wolff all reacted swiftly, with the Scot claiming that the allegation was based on "intimidatory and misogynistic behaviour", focussing on her "marital status rather than my abilities".

Earlier today, Christian Horner denied that either Red Bull or AlphaTauri had voiced concern.

"We have a big rivalry on track but we haven't raised any official complaint about either Susie or Toto or Mercedes to the FIA," he told Sky Sports. "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 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," he insisted.

"We've not raised any official complaint or made any requests to the FIA or FOM," he added. "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."

The remaining teams subsequently took to social media to each post the same denial.

"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," it read.

"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."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by kenji, 11/12/2023 1:42

"@JCR...precisely so. Matters of deep concern are being played out here or so it would seem. Hardly a teen age prank gone wrong. Will we ever find out the details? "

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2. Posted by jcr, 10/12/2023 22:09

"Can anybody ever remember a unanimous decision from all 10 teams in the past.
Thats why they had to write majority rules into the regulations.
Max was brought down by scandal and forced to retire,
Jean Todt got out before the shit hit the fan, post Abu Dhabi.
Now Mohammod is under pressure because of some "sexist" remark He made 20 years ago.
and on top of all this comes the Wolff allegations.
Does anybody really believe the FIA made it all up,
or was there some shit stirring going on in the paddock."

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3. Posted by kenji, 07/12/2023 13:03

"The issue appears to be associated with something that Wolff is claimed to have said which prompted the question , how did he know that? Or so it seems. It should be relatively simple to find out whether this did or did not happen! If it did then the FIA are quite correct to look into it. The other side to this is the 'possum stirring'. In words that convey the basic trajectory, is it just a new case of 'assymetrical antagonism.' planned to take out an enemy of the governing forces? Get the gatekeeper."

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4. Posted by Great_white_shark, 07/12/2023 2:58

"@elsiebc I also noticed he said that. If he didn't make any "official" complaints, did he make any other type of complaints? I wouldn't put it past Horner. I remember him when there was talk of Red Bull having gone over budget. He questioned if Toto had any insider information from an ex employee who went to work for the FIA. A lot of teams if not all of them knew about it because F1 is such a small world, everyone knows everything but Horner wouldn't be Horner if he didn't stir the pot every chance he had."

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5. Posted by elsiebc, 07/12/2023 0:44

"Key word being "official". Allows plausible deniability while raising concerns over after dinner aperitifs and cigars. "

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6. Posted by Celtic Tiger, 06/12/2023 23:40

"That's amusing. Mrs.Wolff throws around trigger words like "misogynistic behaviour" and all the teams rally united in public support. If it wasn't any of the teams, then it must have been that suspicious looking Professor Plum, sitting in the billiard room and eyeing that candlestick. "

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7. Posted by kenji, 06/12/2023 23:30

"How amazingly unexpected!!!! Just stir the possum and then beat a hasty retreat. Classic off season rating requirement."

Teams unite to deny raising concerns over the Wolffs

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