Purple Bull boss Christian Horner and different Components One groups have denied elevating a criticism about Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his spouse Susie, head of the F1 Academy.
On Tuesday the governing FIA confirmed it was launching an investigation into “the allegation of knowledge of a confidential nature being handed to an F1 crew principal from a member of FOM [Formula One Management] personnel.”
Mercedes and Susie Wolff, who studies on to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, rejected the allegation of a battle of curiosity in separate statements of their very own that night.
The investigation was prompted by a report in F1 Enterprise journal, which alleged a minimum of one crew boss had raised issues to the FIA after Toto Wolff supposedly made a press release in a gathering with info which might solely have come from a high-ranking F1 worker.
On Wednesday, Mercedes’ 9 rival groups all distanced themselves from the allegations.
First Horner, identified to have a frosty rivalry with Toto Wolff, advised Sky Sports activities he had made no criticism.
“We’ve a giant rivalry on observe [with Mercedes] however we have not raised any official criticism both about Susie or Toto or Mercedes to the FIA,” Horner stated.
“Actually, Purple Bull has been the crew that has received most concerned with F1 Academy since its inception, to the purpose that between the 2 Purple Bull-owned groups, we’ll be getting into three vehicles in 2024. So we have been working intently with Susie, who’s been doing an excellent job on F1 Academy.
“So I believe we, like others, had been fairly shocked by the assertion that got here out final evening, but it surely definitely wasn’t instigated or required or set off by Purple Bull. We have not raised any official criticism or made any requests to the FIA or to FOM.
“So far as the opposite groups, I am unable to speak on behalf of others. That is an FIA factor, they’ve taken this motion, however as I say, definitely nothing to do with Purple Bull.”
Ferrari, McLaren, Alpine, Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Williams and Haas, in addition to Purple Bull for themselves and on behalf of AlphaTauri, put out the next assertion on Wednesday night.
“We are able to affirm that we now have not made any criticism to the FIA relating to the allegation of knowledge of a confidential nature being handed between an F1 Crew Principal and a member of FOM workers. We’re happy and proud to help F1 Academy and its managing director by means of our dedication to sponsor an entrant in our liveries from subsequent season.”
The main points of the FIA’s compliance investigation haven’t been confirmed at this stage.