Bernie banks on Hamilton... again

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Bernie Ecclestone will be putting his money once again on Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton in 2017, regardless of the whoever shall turn out to be his team mate next season.

In an in-depth interview with Sky Sports News HQ, Ecclestone said he hoped that Hamilton would be challenged in 2017 by his team mate to be, but wasn't holding his breath over such a prospect.

"I think nobody would want to buy tickets and go to watch a race or watch on television Lewis disappearing from us when the lights go off and probably lapping the field a couple of times," Ecclestone said.

"It would be bad for everybody and bad for Lewis as well, because I think he wants to win fair and wants to beat somebody. I don't think anybody is going to beat Lewis."

Pundits speculated last week over the chances of either Fernando Alonso or Sebastian Vettel replacing the freshly retired Nico Rosberg at Mercedes, but Ecclestone knew those bets were always going to be highly improbable for various reasons.

"There is no good encouraging people because both those guys are under contract.

"Whether or not they've said they couldn't have Fernando, because of his tanglement with McLaren and with them at the time [over the Spygate controversy of 2007], it would be wrong to have him. So they didn't try with him.

"But Sebastian is with Ferrari, is happy and certainly wouldn't break his contract."

At the end of the day, Mister E reckons there is only one driver currently on the grid that could perhaps give Hamilton a run for his money as his team mate, and even win the title altogether in the near future: Max Verstappen.

"Verstappen has been super. When I say nobody, maybe Max in that car could hurry Lewis along a little bit. If he gets in the right car he will. Even where he is now there's possibilities.

"The problem is a simple one: the Mercedes team, engine, everything, is perfect and they've got the best driver in the world.

"I hope I'm completely wrong in my assessment of the championship with Lewis. I hope I am wrong and whoever goes and sits in the same team can beat him or hurry him up that he makes mistakes.

"But my personal opinion is that it's not going to happen."

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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.