Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed skepticism about Lewis Hamilton's ability to secure an eighth world championship with Ferrari.
With Hamilton leaving Mercedes after an 11-year partnership, the switch to Ferrari has reignited the ambitions of the seven-time world champion and sparked the imaginations of fans worldwide.
However, Ecclestone, who led Formula 1’s growth into a global spectacle during his nearly 40-year tenure, believes the Italian team may not be Hamilton's golden ticket back to the top.
After a decade of unprecedented success with Mercedes, Hamilton’s recent seasons have been defined by struggle as Red Bull surged ahead, leaving Mercedes in the rearview mirror in F1’s ground effect era.
In a bid for his elusive eighth title, Hamilton made the high-stakes decision to switch to Ferrari – a team that blends pure racing heritage with some of the sport's most passionate fans.
For Hamilton, a switch to the prestigious House of Maranello is as much a pursuit of racing glory as it is about joining a team with unparalleled history.
Ecclestone, however, doesn’t think Hamilton will find a team that will prioritize him in the same way Mercedes once did.
"I don't think it will be easy for Lewis,” the 94-year-old told the Daily Mail at the recent Sao Paulo Grand Prix;
“Especially in that team. They will back Charles Leclerc. He's quick and has grown up there. They won't dump him for anyone."
The 27-year-old Monegasque has been with the Scuderia since 2019 and has established himself as the tifosis’ favourite son who enjoys with deep ties to the team and with the fans.
Internal competition, Ecclestone suggests, could complicate Hamilton’s journey at Ferrari.
In hindsight, the Briton believes the break from Mercedes was inevitable for Hamilton, who faced challenges with the Brackley-based team that appeared to reach a tipping point in recent seasons.
"From Lewis' point of view, it may not have been a mistake to join Ferrari,” Ecclestone admitted. “He couldn't exist any longer at Mercedes. Either he's given up with them or they have given up on him.
“They wouldn't do much to keep him, so he is better off going."
While Hamilton’s decision may be a logical next step in his career, Ecclestone believes that it also served another purpose—boosting the ego of Ferrari chairman John Elkann.
"For John Elkann, the guy who runs it, it was a big ego thing,” Bernie noted. “He thought he had captured the best guy the world had ever seen."
For Elkann, securing Hamilton brought a proven champion to Ferrari, igniting hope that the team’s famous “prancing horse” would reclaim its former glory.
“When he signed him, there was nothing to indicate he was wrong in that assessment. Whether he is still happy with that is another story. Only time will tell.”
Ecclestone also didn’t hold back when asked if Hamilton should have considered retirement instead of jumping into the complexities of Ferrari.
“He would have had to walk away from a lot financially,” he said. “It is a big deal he has got, though I suspect the bonus clauses written into his contract are there to make him feel good rather than reality.”
Overall, the former F1 boss has mixed emotions over Hamilton’s future in the sport. While he respects the latter’s outstanding accomplishments, Ecclestone hinted that lingering in F1 without clear prospects of victory could tarnish the legacy of one of the sport’s greatest champions.
“If Lewis is fading, which I don't like to see, he should go away and do something else, and do a good job at it,” he concluded.
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