Lewis Hamilton has been urged by David Coulthard to 'lead by example' after the seven-time world champion demanded more transparency from the FIA over the sport's recent scandals.
F1 is going through a rocky period off track with president Mohammed Ben Sulayem at the centre of an investigation he allegedly interferred with some race results before he was ultimately cleared.
Both Susie Wolff and Toto Wolff were the centre of a short investigation by the FIA amid claims of a conflict of interest.
That investigation was swiftly dropped, but the managing director of the F1 academy has now lodged a formal complaint against the sport's governing body.
Hamilton voiced his support for Wolff recently while slamming the sport - and the FIA - for a 'real lack of accountability'.
The Mercedes driver added that he hoped Wolff's actions would help 'create change' and called for more transparency.
However, Hamilton's stance has been questioned by Coulthard, who wants the 39-year-old to 'lead by example'.
“There’s one school of thought that says: ‘There’s no such thing as bad publicity'," Coulthard said on the Formula For Success podcast.
“Whenever there’s been big traumas and Formula 1 – loss of life and horrible situations like that – the audience has grown because it takes it off the back pages and puts it on the front pages.
“We’ve had Lewis Hamilton ask for more accountability and transparency across the board.
“I’m always a bit curious on that, actually, because it’s like people ask for things whilst they’re not having to do it.
"Lead by example in being transparent and open, rather than just doing so whenever there’s a controversy.”
Eddie Jordan has been frustrated that the ongoing drama off the track has taken the focus away from F1 recently.
However, he's fully supportive of Wolff in her decision to go down the legal route against the FIA.
Jordan said: “Susie is such a competent girl. I remember seeing and being super impressed with Susie Wolff driving a Formula 1 car at Williams.
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“She is a proper girl. She’s feisty – she’s Scottish, which probably helps being feisty – but a wonderful girl.
“So if she feels and has felt slighted reputationally and various other ways, business wise, she has every right [to take action].
“I 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."
