Sports Mole rounds up all of the latest news regarding Formula 1 on Monday, August 24.
Monday morning's Formula 1 news roundup:
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?"
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."
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.
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.
