Lewis Hamilton aired multiple grievances against the FIA as he appeared at its end-of-season Gala for the first time in three years.
The Mercedes driver criticised the governing body over the investigation involving his team, which it announced then swiftly dropped earlier this week. He claimed the FIA’s actions cast doubt on the integrity of Susie Wolff, the managing director of the all-female F1 Academy series, “without any evidence.”
Hamilton also accused “certain individuals” within the FIA leadership of frustrating efforts to improve diversity and inclusion within the sport.
The seven-times world champion was speaking at a press conference ahead of tonight’s FIA Gala at Baku in Azerbaijan, attended by the top-placed competitors across its championships. Earlier today, Hamilton’s Mercedes team said they were considering legal action in response to the FIA’s handling of its investigation.
“It has been a challenging week,” said Hamilton. “Disappointing, really, to see 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 – Susie Wolff – without questioning, without any evidence.”
After announcing their investigation on Tuesday, the FIA released a short statement yesterday confirming no investigation was in progress. “And then just saying ‘sorry’ at the end,” said Hamilton, “that’s just unacceptable.”
Wolff is also the wife of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff. Reports claimed the FIA believed she had shared confidential information with him obtained through her role with Formula One Management. The three parties denied the claims and all Mercedes’ rival F1 teams said they had not raised any complaints with the FIA.
F1 Academy was set up to promote young female racers and increase the representation of women competitors within the sport. However Hamilton believes not everyone at the FIA is committed to improving diversity and inclusion.
“We’ve got a lot of great people within the sport that are doing amazing work,” he said. “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 and make a step forward, they’re trying to pull us back. And that has to change.
“This is a global sport and we have such an incredible opportunity and actual responsibility to be leaders of change. And as…
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