FIA issues statement as rumours swirl regarding confidential information leak

Thomas Maher
The FIA and Formula 1 logos together. F1

The FIA and Formula 1 logos together.

The FIA has issued a statement, days after a recent media report alleging an F1 team boss came into possession of confidential information last year.

The governing body has moved to issue a statement after recent media allegations suggested an F1 team boss had received confidential information from an employee of FOM (Formula One Management).

Days after the details of the report emerged online, the FIA has released a statement to say they are aware of the speculation and that their Compliance Department is investigating the matter.

FIA issue statement on media reports

Without naming any team bosses, the statement from the FIA simply said that recent media reports that have circulated about a team boss are being looked into by their Compliance department.

“The FIA is aware of media speculation centred on the allegation of information of a confidential nature being passed to an F1 team principal from a member of FOM personnel,” read the statement.

“The FIA Compliance Department is looking into the matter.”

The FIA declined to pass further comment when approached by PlanetF1.com, clarifying that the situation has already been passed onto the Compliance Department of the governing body – headed up by Paolo Basarri.

The governing body’s suggestion of “media speculation” is likely to focus on a recent report in the BusinessF1 magazine that alleged Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had been privy to information known only by FIA and FOM employees regarding the conformity – or lack thereof – of rival teams with the 2021 Financial Regulations.

The FIA’s Code of Ethics states confidentiality is one of its four key commitments, with Article 4 of its own 2020 Ethics Booklet stating that: “The FIA Parties and Third Parties shall also treat as confidential or secret any information, which is not public, communicated to them in the exercise of their duties.

“Any information or opinion shall be divulged only in accordance with the principles, directives, and objectives of the FIA and its Members.”

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