Former F1 driver David Coulthard has urged Lewis Hamilton to ālead by exampleā when it comes to calling for greater transparency from the FIA, claiming the Mercedes driver only pipes up in moments of controversy.
F1 has been rocked by a number of off-track controversies over recent months, including the ongoing Red Bull saga and a probe into accusations of alleged race interference by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, which resulted in the FIA president being cleared by the governing bodyās ethics committee.
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Those affairs came after Susie Wolff, the managing director of the F1 Academy feeder series and wife of Mercedes team boss Toto, was at the centre of claims of an alleged conflict of interest in December 2023.
Mrs Wolff announced ahead of this monthās Australian Grand Prix that she has filed a criminal complaint against the FIA, with her action publicly supported by current Mercedes driver Hamilton in Melbourne.
Hamilton said: āIām incredibly proud of Susie.
āI think sheās so brave and she stands for such great values. Sheās such a leader and in a world where often people are silenced, for her to be standing up sends such a great message.
āI love that sheās taken it out of this world, fighting 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.
āThere is really no accountability and we need that; I think the fans need that. How can you trust the sport and what is happening here if you donāt have that?
āHopefully, this stand that sheās taken now will create change, will have a positive impact, and especially for women.
āIt is still a male-dominated sport, and weāre living in a time where the message is, āIf you file a complaint, you will be firedā, and that is a terrible narrative to be projecting to the world.
āSo, especially when weāre talking about inclusivity here in the sport, we need to make sure that we are staying true to the core values here.ā
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Hamilton went on to reveal that he ānever hasā supported Ben Sulayem, who was elected FIA president shortly after the Mercedes driver was denied a record eighth World Championship in highly controversial circumstances at the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Hamiltonās stance has been questioned by former McLaren and Red Bull driver Coulthard, who has called for the 39-year-old to lead the way when it comes to openness and transparency.
Appearing on the Formula For Success podcast, Coulthard said: āThereās one school of thought that says: āThereās no such thing as bad publicity.ā
āWhenever thereās been big traumas and Formula 1 ā loss of life and horrible situations like that ā the audience has grown because it takes it off the back pages and puts it on the front pages.
āWeāve had Lewis Hamilton ask for more accountability and transparency across the board.
āIām always a bit curious on that, actually, because itās like people ask for things whilst theyāre not having to do it. Lead by example in being transparent and open, rather than just doing so whenever thereās a controversy.ā
Coulthardās co-host, the former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, has become the latest high-profile figure to back Wolff ā and expressed his frustration that the various controversies surrounding the sport are taking attention away from the on-track action.
He said: āSusie is such a competent girl. I remember seeing and being super impressed with Susie Wolff driving a Formula 1 car at Williams.
āShe is a proper girl. Sheās feisty ā sheās Scottish, which probably helps being feisty ā but a wonderful girl.
āSo if she feels and has felt slighted reputationally and various other ways, business wise, she has every right [to take action].
āI would promise the FIA they will need to have a very comprehensive prosecutor, lawyer, whatever, because Susie Wolff would not be going into that kind of situation unprepared.
āItās similar to Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Mr President of the FIA.
āHeās been cleared [but was] under some serious hassle. The ethics committee of the FIA have cleared him. Some people are calling into to question: who are the ethics committee? Who are they and what did they hear and was there any opposite side to it?
āWe will never know and I donāt think we should take sides. I just wish all of this just evaporated and we got on with what we want to talk about, which is hardcore motor racing.
āWhat do we think can happen? Whatās going to happen in the next race? Whoās going to win the Championship? What happens to Carlos Sainzās future? Where does [Alex] Albon go? Does he go to Mercedes? Does he sit where he is?
āThereās a lot of intrigue out there. They are the things that I think [the fans] want to talk about.ā