Formula 1 Gossip: So far Liberty Media 'have achieved nothing', says Ecclestone

Bernie Ecclestone has blasted new Formula 1 owners, Liberty Media, claiming that the sport needs to be run like a dictatorship. The 87-year-old said “Democracy has no place in Formula One. The new owners will soon realise this, because so far they have achieved nothing." - F1 Fansite

Mercedes are ‘close’ to engine breakthrough according to engine boss Andy Cowell. After claiming the both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ titles, Cowell said “It’s an answer for the early part of next year. We need to see how the power unit development goes through the winter." - Planet F1

Russian billionaire Boris Rotenberg is reportedly backing Sergey Sirotkin for a place on the grid next season. Sirotkin’s backers, including Rotenberg and the owner of SMP Bank, are promising a €15million sponsorship and Rotenberg said “We are all hoping and trying to do everything, but it depends not only on us. The main thing is that they (Williams) understand us, but in any case Sergey deserves to go to Formula One.” - F1 Fansite

Toro Rosso are currently working to fit the Honda engine into their 2018 car. Technical boss James Key said “It’s a very compact unit, but a different architecture to the Renault. It requires a lot of adaption work." - Sportsmole