SUSIE WOLFF SENDS HEARTFELT MESSAGE TO DORIANE PIN FOR MERCEDES F1 TEST

Susie Wolff sent Doriane Pin an emotional message before the French driver made history by becoming the first woman to test a Mercedes F1 car

Doriane Pin, PREMA Racing, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff, F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff

Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff sent a heartfelt message to Doriane Pin ahead of her Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone. 

The 22-year-old driver got behind the wheel of the Mercedes W12, which was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in their 2021 campaign, at Silverstone. She became the first female driver to test a Mercedes F1 car.

Wolff, who was the last woman to participate in an F1 race weekend when she took part in a free practice session with Williams in 2014, sent a message to the 2025 F1 Academy champion ahead of her test. 

"Doriane, our F1 Academy champion. Your first Formula 1 test. What a special day," Wolff said in a personal message to Pin. "It won't be until you're strapped in and they start up that engine that it will all become real. You'll get out onto the track at Silverstone. You won't believe how fast that car can go in a straight line.

"The Maggotts-Becketts section, what a brilliant corner section to drive in an F1 car. I know, like I was, you'll be super keen to post a quick lap time to show everybody what you're capable of. But build up to it, trust and listen to the engineers around you. They'll be guiding you on the day and enjoy every minute.

 "We'll be rooting for you from a distance. We're proud of you, good luck."

When asked how it made her feel, Pin responded: "Very nice of Susie. Obviously, I've met incredible people thanks to F1 Academy and being with Mercedes, working with them for so many years.

"I've learned so much and I'm so happy to be driving a Formula 1 car for the first time together. She is an inspiration for all and she also drove a Formula 1 car for testing in Silverstone as well."

- Lydia Mee

HAMILTON PRAISES F1 ACADEMY DIRECTOR SUSIE WOLFF OVER LEGAL ACTION

AP Photo 

 MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Lewis Hamilton criticized FIA while supporting Susie Wolff’s “bravery” for filing a criminal complaint against auto racing's governing body in the French courts.

Wolff, who is married to Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff, and director of the all-female junior racing series F1 Academy, on Wednesday said she had begun legal action “in relation to statements made against me” by the FIA.

The Wolffs were the subject of an FIA investigation last December which sought to determine if the couple shared confidential information. It followed allegations of a conflict of interest published in BusinessF1 magazine.

But FIA closed the investigation after just 48 hours, following near identical statements from the remaining nine teams denying they’d lodged the complaint required to commence it. Susie Wolff began legal action on March 4.

Hamilton firmly backed Wolff during a media session Thursday at Albert Park ahead of Sunday's Australian Grand Prix, in which he lamented the lack of accountability in the series.

“I’m incredibly proud of Susie Wolff,” Hamilton said. “She’s so brave, and she stands for such great values. She’s such a leader. And in a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends such a great message.

“I love that she’s taken it out of this (F1) world to fight it from the outside because there is a real lack of accountability here within this sport, within the FIA. Things that are happening behind closed doors, there is no transparency, there is clearly no accountability."

AP Photo 

Hamilton indicated Wolff's stance was especially important in the “male-dominated” world of F1.

“It is still a male-dominated sport. And we are living in a time where the message is: ‘If you file a complaint, you will be fired,’" he said. “And that is a terrible narrative to be projecting to the world, especially when we’re talking about inclusivity.”

Asked if FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem still had his confidence, Hamilton said: “Never has.”

The FIA said Wednesday its ethics committee cleared Ben Sulayem over “interference of any kind.” He had been the subject of two reported complaints. The first alleged he intervened to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso at last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The second report from the same whistleblower also claimed Ben Sulayem told officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its high-profile race last November.

On the grid, Hamilton said he was confident his Mercedes team can improve pace from his W15 car to challenge for podiums and races this year. The seven-time world champion last climbed the podium’s top step at the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP. The British driver is a two-time winner of the Australian GP, the last time in 2015.

- STEWART BELL

FIA CONFIRMS WHISTLEBLOWER COMPLAINTS AGAINST PRESIDENT REGARDING SAUDI ARABIA AND LAS VEGAS RACES

AP Photo

 The FIA said Tuesday that its compliance officer has received two complaints “detailing potential allegations involving certain members of its governing body" in seeming reference to whistleblower claims against the president of Formula 1's governing body.

The BBC reported this week that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem allegedly intervened to overturn a penalty given to Fernando Alonso at last year's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. A second BBC report says the same whistleblower also claims Ben Sulayem told officials not to certify the Las Vegas circuit for its high-profile race last November.

“The Compliance Department is assessing these concerns, as is common practice in these matters, to ensure that due process is meticulously followed,” the FIA said.

The FIA confirmed no details about the allegations or even that Ben Sulayem is the target. In an additional statement given to The Associated Press, an FIA spokesman said: “It is unfortunate and a source of great concern that the matter has been disclosed to the media without any prior authorization and that certain elements of the report were inaccurately reported.”

SUSIE WOLFF FULL STATEMENT

 

HAMILTON CALLS FOR CHANGE AT FIA AFTER WOLFF STORM

Reuters 

Lewis Hamilton called for change at Formula One's governing body on Friday after what he said was "unacceptable" treatment of his Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff's wife Susie over an alleged confidentiality breach.

The sport's most successful driver, a seven-times world champion who finished third overall this season, spoke out at a press conference ahead of the FIA's end-of-year prizegiving gala in Azerbaijan.

"A disappointing week really to see that 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," said the Briton.

"Without questioning, without any evidence. And then just saying sorry at the end, and that's just unacceptable.

"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 to make a step forward, they try to pull us back, and that has to change."

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