Wolff puts pressure on FIA president probe

Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff has called for transparency to be shown over the investigations into FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

It was reported earlier this month that the president had been placed under investigation over allegations that he attempted to interfere with a race result during the 2023 season.

The event in question was last year’s Saudi Arabia Grand Prix, where Fernando Alonso crossed the line in third place before a 10-second time penalty for an improper penalty pit stop that dropped him off the podium.

The stewards later reversed the decision with Alonso returning to the podium, before it emerged that Ben Sulayem had allegedly attempted to intervene and overturn the penalty.

Further allegations were made against the President, claiming that he pushed for officials not to certify the new Las Vegas Formula 1 track that made its debut last year.

'Criticism is for lack of transparency'

Wolff has voiced his desire for transparency and insisted that criticism has been sprouted from a lack of details being made public.

Asked whether he was concerned by the reports on Ben Sulayem's alleged actions, and the scrutiny upon him, Wolff told media, including RacingNews365: “I think what’s happening at the moment in the sport, in these various situations, we don’t know exactly what happened.

“But the negative criticism that we get is for the lack of transparency. I think this is what we need to understand.

“We’re living in a world that expects transparency and understanding. In some cases, that would just solve the situation if rumours prove to be not true.

“We as a sport should strive to do this. We’ll see what the outcome will be.”