F1 blackmail plot

[rohrl]

Apologies if it's a repost but this stuff about Toto Wolff and Colin Kolles has just come to my attention.

German press said:

Former HRT boss Colin Kolles tried to blackmail Mercedes chief Toto Wolff earlier this year, it has emerged.

We reported earlier that a conversation between Austrian Wolff and a then-unnamed former F1 team boss was "secretly recorded" and then threatened to be used against him.

Bild newspaper had said Wolff spoke negatively about his own boss, Ross Brawn, colleague Niki Lauda, and also Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche, whilst divulging details of his clashing co-ownership of the Williams team.

A subsequent report by the magazine Sport Bild said Wolff had been taped in mid February this year by former HRT and Force India boss Kolles, in Barcelona.

That report said Kolles then threatened to release the details of their explosive conversation unless he paid a sum of money.

Reportedly, Wolff and Kolles have settled their dispute with the intervention of F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, while Mercedes has obtained a court order preventing the publication of the details of the conversation.

Sport1 said Kolles would not comment, and Mercedes also declined to comment.

The German news agency SID said Wolff could not be reached at time of publication.

[Chrisgr31]

I assume there must be more to this story as blackmail is a serious offence. I guess it was all around engines etc but it does all seem extraordinary goings on

[Eric Mc]

Is the F1 edifice on the point of crumbling?

[Rude-boy]

Eric Mc said:

Is the F1 edifice on the point of crumbling?

Nope, it's going to take a death in 'the family' first...

[TheArchitect]

Theyve been discussing this over on Joe Sawards website and it looks like a naughty leak but all is sorted.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/the-dang...

[Eric Mc]

TheArchitect said:

Theyve been discussing this over on Joe Sawards website and it looks like a naughty leak but all is sorted.

http://joesaward.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/the-dang...

Is "sorted" code for "bought off"?

[Chrisgr31]

Can someone explain why this story has arisen? I fail to see what the parties have to gain. If you were the person doing the bugging yes tyou have a story but by making it public arent you destroying your future employment prospects? If you are the bugged than you dont want the story out but does it matter if its out?

[Eric Mc]

In other words, who benefits - the "bugger" or the "buggee"?

[JMC1]

Well it does say that Big man Bernie help sort it so........ I am guessing a sum of money changed hands again. I did say guess.

[Derek Smith]

Eric Mc said:

Is the F1 edifice on the point of crumbling?

'Blackmail' has happened before.

According to Norberto Fontana in an Argentinian newspaper report:

A certain Frenchman walked into the Sauber camp and ordered him to block a certain French Canadian or risk, the implication was, losing their engines. This at the final race of the 97 season.

Very little was made of it at the time.

There were also allegations that, at the same race, team managers colluded.

There was some incident that overshadowed all of that though. Can't quite remember the details . . .

Edited to:

Correct spelling and add: the race was the European GP. Can't find anything on YT but if memory serves, Hunt commented on Fontana's blocking, asking Walker what engines were in the Sauber. Subtle to the end.

Edited by Derek Smith on Friday 19th July 20:18

[S0 What]

Eric Mc said:

Is the F1 edifice on the point of crumbling?

Well if it is it's been on the point for the last 40 years, st happens people go "wow" then F1 moves on and people forget, then get all shocked the next time the same st happens.

[Eric Mc]

Maybe this time it will be different.

[Teppic]

Derek Smith said:

Correct spelling and add: the race was the European GP. Can't find anything on YT but if memory serves, Hunt commented on Fontana's blocking, asking Walker what engines were in the Sauber. Subtle to the end.

Via a séance?