(Motorsports news) The FIA did not name the Wolffs in a statement it released earlier this week, but it did indicate that its compliance section was “looking into the matter” of a claim that private material had been transferred from a FOM employee to a team principal. In the wake of a magazine article that included the accusation and implied that rival team bosses had complained, it was evidently a reference to the pair.

All of the other Formula One teams thereafter released comments stating that they had not received any complaints of this kind. Then, on Thursday, the FIA released a second statement clarifying that no inquiry was still underway. Head of the F1 Academy Susie Wolff questioned the response from the governing body, stating that “what happened this week is simply not good enough”.

Mercedes is “in active legal exchange with the FIA”, according to Toto Wolff as well. During the governing body’s prize-giving banquet in Baku, Hamilton defended the Wolffs and criticized the FIA’s conduct during a press conference. “This week has been difficult,” Hamilton remarked. “I find it incredibly unfortunate that our sport’s governing body has attempted to cast doubt on the character of Susie Wolff, one of the most amazing female leaders in history, without raising any warning flags or providing any supporting documentation, and then simply apologizing at the end.

And that is simply not acceptable. Within the sport, there are many wonderful people who are producing incredible stuff. The battle to increase diversity and inclusion in the industry is never-ending. Nevertheless, it appears that some members of the FIA’s leadership are always attempting to push us back whenever we try to advance. And that needs to alter.” Hamilton emphasized that diversity concerns must be addressed by racing as a whole.

He declared, “I think this is a global sport.” Being change agents is both an amazing opportunity and a natural duty for us. “And we have an obligation to make sure that we’re moving in the correct way when we visit all those nations throughout the world. As the team prepares to battle at the front of Formula One again next year, Hamilton also gave credit to Toto Wolff, who has led his Mercedes team for the last ten years.

He declared, “Toto is an incredible leader.” “I have a long history with him. At the same moment, we both joined the team. It has been an intriguing experience for both of us to develop alongside the team and watch his concept expand and advance inside the team’s framework. He is still very competitive and hasn’t lost a bit of it. Even when he’s seated at his tiny workstation in the garage, you can see it on TV. I believe he’s done an amazing job of striking a balance between his personal and professional lives.

However, I believe that everyone should just keep pushing—yesterday, we spoke with the team as a group. He’s a very, very approachable leader, and I believe that people can identify with him on an emotional and simply compassionate or driven level. “He is incredibly perceptive. Everyone on the team has, in my opinion, found it difficult when they are working toward a goal that isn’t quite going as planned.

Also read: The FIA withdraws its inquiry concerning Toto and Susie Wolff