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Mercedes' Wolff reportedly invests in Williams!

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has reportedly acquired a 5 per cent stake in Williams, the beleaguered team in which the Austrian was once a shareholder.

The information comes courtesy of veteran F1 journalist and once Williams team manager Peter Windsor, although it's unclear on what the British reporter had based his affirmation.

Williams is a publicly traded company, so it's possible that Wolff's holding was divulged in a regulatory filing. But the stake may have also resulted from the exercise of options held by Wolff since his days as a shareholder.

Williams was originally Wolff's pipeline into F1, with the Austrian previously holding a 30 per cent stake in the Grove-based company which he later sold between 2014 and 2016.

"It’s nice to see that yesterday the head of Mercedes Toto Wolff bought a five percent stake in Williams F1," Windsor wrote on Twitter.

"For the first time in a long time, the team can begin to move in the right direction."

The news come just days after Williams Grand Prix Holdings announced that it was seeking a buyer for its F1 operations. As a reminder, Wolff also acquired a small stake in sports car manufacturer Aston Martin following the active involvement of Racing Point owner Lawrence Stroll.

Wolff's investment in Williams, if it is the result of a purchase on the open market, would obviously make him a believer in the company's future.

However, former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who is helping his old friend Sir Frank Williams find an adequate buyer for his team, warned that a takeover of F1's third most successful outfit could prove challenging given the current crisis.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

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