There probably has never been a time in Formula 1 when the sport and its governing body, the FIA, have been in such a deadlock. The FIA has constantly been under pressure since its president Mohammed Ben Sulayem came under fire for alleged misogynistic behavior early last year. Since then, it has been one thing after the other.

The major concern that many key figures in the sport have with the FIA is its lack of transparency in handling certain situations. The biggest of them all as of now was the compliance probe investigation the FIA launched against Susie Wolff, the wife of Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. And now, the FIA is being sued by Susie, and Eddie Jordan has warned the Paris-based governing body to better be prepared for it.

In December last year, the FIA initiated an investigation following reports from BusinessF1 magazine, citing concerns raised by rival team executives regarding the possibility of Toto and Susie Wolff disclosing information discussed in private meetings. Notably, Susie reports directly to F1’s chief executive, Stefano Domenicali, as the managing director of the F1 Academy. Following the launch of the investigation, the remaining nine F1 teams issued statements denying any involvement in lodging complaints against the Wolffs. Subsequently, the FIA concluded its investigation within 48 hours, prompting both Susie and Toto Wolff to suggest the possibility of pursuing legal action against the FIA.

And earlier this month, Susie Wolff confirmed that she had filed a case against the FIA in the French Court. Her decision to take legal action stems from her dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding the FIA’s conduct in the matter. She voiced her concerns on social media, stating, “I feel more than ever it is important to stand up, call out improper behavior and make sure people are held to account.”

Interestingly, the lawsuit comes hot on the heels of the FIA’s clearance of its president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, due to alleged interference in two races last year. In the recent episode of the ‘Formula For Success’ podcast, Eddie Jordan warned the FIA to handle the criminal complaint with caution because Susie Wolff is a very competent woman in the motorsport.

“She [Susie Wolff] feels and has felt slighted both reputationally and various other ways; business-wise, she has every right. And I would promise the FIA, they will need to have a very comprehensive prosecutor, lawyer, whatever because Susie Wolff would not be going into that kinda situation unprepared,“ said Eddie Jordan.

Lewis Hamilton was furious at the FIA at the time the probe was launched against Susie Wolff, and now he has praised her for keeping the governing body accountable.

Lewis Hamilton backs Susie Wolff’s criminal complaint against the FIA

It’s no secret that Lewis Hamilton has always been a huge supporter of inclusivity and diversity. So when the FIA decided to launch a probe against Susie Wolff, one of the most accomplished women in motorsport, Hamilton was furious. After he learned that she had launched a criminal complaint against the FIA, he commended her courage and leadership.

The Mercedes driver echoed the sentiment of the lack of transparency and accountability on the FIA’s part. He said as per Motorsport.com, “In a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends such a great message. I love that she’s taking it out of this world, filing it from outside, because there is a real lack of accountability here within this sport, within the FIA.”

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