Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Tuesday, August 25.
Tuesday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
Williams was sold for €152m
© Reuters
Buying the Williams team cost the British team's new owners €152 million, according to Bloomberg.
Having slumped to the very back of the field last year, the Grove based team announced last Friday that it has been acquired by private investment firm Dorilton Capital.
"This may be the end of an era for Williams as a family owned team, but we know it is in good hands," said team boss Claire Williams.
Bloomberg reports that New York-based Dorilton Capital paid EUR 152 million for Williams, with EUR 112 million of that finding its way into the hands of shareholders after subtracting debt and transaction costs.
Leo Turrini, an Italian F1 insider, said the deal is "the end of an era".
"Among those whom Enzo Ferrari called the garagisti, Frank Williams and Colin Chapman were probably the greatest," he wrote on his Quotidiano blog.
"Quietly, I believe the team's long decline was cruelly ushered in by the Ayrton Senna tragedy," Turrini added.
"I know that Williams won after that, but there are episodes that divert the course of history."
Marko wants telemetry and radios banned in F1
© Reuters
Lewis Hamilton dominates Formula 1 because he has "a more powerful engine".
That is the claim of Dr Helmut Marko, the top Austrian official at Red Bull-Honda.
He is looking forward to the forthcoming ban on 'party mode' engine settings, which has been delayed for a week until Monza following a request not only by Mercedes, but ironically also from Red Bull's partner Honda.
But Marko says Mercedes' big advantage has existed since the beginning of the hybrid 'power unit' era in 2014.
He told Der Spiegel that although Hamilton is a gifted driver, "his enormous superiority results from a more powerful engine".
"We do not currently have a drivers' championship," Marko said. "We have an engineers' championship.
"It is not the technical product that should stand out, but the person. That is what interests and fascinates people."
He suggests that banning telemetry would be a good way to start addressing the problem, while "radio traffic from the box to the driver" should also be stopped, according to Marko.
"In Formula 1 we are closer to autonomous driving than Google," he insisted. "Everything is determined by the engineers. And that's the wrong way."
Marko also criticised the FIA's ruling on the 'pink Mercedes' case, likening the situation to the way the Ferrari engine legality saga was handled.
"The FIA does not want to hurt anyone again," he said. "It is a compromise judgement that avoids the question: Is the car legal or not?"
More news from Formula 1:
Wolff denies 'flexible rear wing' claims
Toto Wolff has rejected suggestions Mercedes' 2020 car is benefitting from having a flexible rear wing. Read more.
Berger advises Vettel to say 'bye-bye' to F1
In Sebastian Vettel's place, F1 legend Gerhard Berger says he would say "bye-bye" to Formula 1. Read more.
Hulkenberg to turn down Mercedes reserve role
Nico Hulkenberg would turn down an offer to become Mercedes' official F1 reserve driver. Read more.
Now Imola wants spectators at 2020 F1 race
A third circuit on the 2020 calendar says it wants spectators to be able to attend this year. Read more.
Bottas must 'get into Hamilton's head' - Villeneuve
Merely trying to beat Lewis Hamilton "on the track" will not be enough for Valtteri Bottas. Read more.
Honda has better race engine than Renault - Marko
Honda is now the best engine manufacturer in Formula 1 behind Mercedes, according to Dr Helmut Marko. Read more.
Marko not ruling out Ricciardo return
Dr Helmut Marko says there may be "a way back" to Red Bull for Daniel Ricciardo. Read more.
Mercedes gave Racing Point 'data and drawings' - Marko
Racing Point must have received "data" and "drawings" from Mercedes in order to create a fully-competitive copy of the reigning champion team's 2019 car. Read more.
Mercedes, Honda asked for 'party mode' ban delay
Mercedes and Honda pushed for the 'party mode' ban to be delayed until Monza, according to Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. Read more.
