- Lewis Hamilton has dismissed the ‘terrible story’ he sees in F1
- The Mercedes driver regretted that women are suspended if they complain
- He expressed his support for Susie Wolff taking legal action against the FIA
Lewis Hamilton today launched a blistering attack on Formula 1, saying it discriminates against women.
The seven-time world champion also revealed that he did not support the most powerful man in world motorsport, Mohammed ben Sulayem.
In a strident speech in Melbourne ahead of the Australian Grand Prix, he supported Susie Wolff, the wife of his Mercedes boss Toto. She has initiated criminal proceedings in France against the FIA, the governing body led by Ben Sulayem.
Susie Wolff, 41, is angry that she was subjected to an investigation by the FIA over a possible conflict of interest, given her position as head of the F1 Academy, run and owned by the sport’s owners Liberty Media, and her husband’s involvement as an F1 team boss.
The issue was investigated and dismissed by the FIA’s compliance department in December.
Lewis Hamilton has condemned ‘appalling’ conditions in Formula 1, where ‘filing a complaint’ sees women fired
His comments come after Red Bull suspended a female employee who accused Christian Horner of ‘inappropriate behaviour’
Hamilton, 39, said: “I am incredibly proud of Susie. I think she is so brave and she stands for such great values. She is such a leader in a world where people are often silenced. Her standing up is a great message.”
Apparently referring to the woman at the center of the Red Bull scandal, who has complained about alleged harassment by team boss Christian Horner – a charge of which he has been cleared in an internal investigation – Hamilton added: ‘It’s still a man-made affair dominated sport.
‘We live in a time where the message is that if you file a complaint you will be fired (the women in the Red Bull saga have been suspended with full pay), and that is a terrible story to project to the world. , especially when we talk about inclusivity in sports. We must ensure that we remain true to the core values.
‘I think it’s great that she took it out of this world (of F1) because there is a real lack of responsibility here, within this sport, within the FIA. Things happen behind closed doors. There is no transparency, and we need that.
‘The fans need that. How can you trust the sport and what happens here if you don’t? ‘
Hopefully the stand she is taking now will bring about change and have a positive impact, especially for women.”
Hamilton expressed support for Susie Wolff’s legal action against the FIA after investigating what they called a ‘conflict of interest’ last year
Hamilton said he hopes Wolff’s action will have “a positive impact, and especially for women” in the sport
On Wednesday, Wolff wrote on social media: ‘I can confirm that I personally filed a criminal complaint with the French courts on March 4 in relation to the statements made about me by the FIA last December.
‘There is still no transparency or accountability regarding the conduct of the FIA and its staff in this matter.
