Hamilton brushes off Ecclestone 'not the racer he was' dig

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Like many, Lewis Hamilton doesn't give much importance to what Bernie Ecclestone has to say these days.

The former F1 supremo, a visitor to the Baku paddock this weekend, took a dig at the four-time world champion, claiming he looked "fed up with things" and was perhaps no longer "the racer he used to be".

Hamilton was asked if he had a reaction to the 87-year-old's comments, but the Mercedes star refused to dwell on the subject.

Ecclestone says Hamilton could quit F1 after 2018

"Not really, no," he replied, adding "We'll see at the end of the year," when asked if he is as good as he's ever been.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff offered his two cents on Ecclestone's quip, dismissing it as just another hand grenade Mr. E likes to lob into the paddock once in a while.

"It's Bernie! He comes in and throws a hand grenade and it's in the papers. It's great! But how the news runs these days, we are oscillating between exuberance and depression and back again," Wolff said.

"When things are not going in the right direction it's doomsday and when you win two races in a row it is the 'utter Mercedes dominance destroying the sport'. Maybe it is somewhere in the middle!

"We haven't collectively performed on the level we would have wanted to and in the last races there were three races we could have won and we didn't," he added.

"No, I still see the fire and desire to win very much burning in him. This is Lewis, not Bernie!"

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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.