Lewis Hamilton won’t last two years at Ferrari, Bernie Ecclestone who says 7-time champ has ‘lost…read more
Bernie Ecclestone, the former CEO of Formula 1, has expressed doubts about Lewis Hamilton’s future success at Ferrari, predicting the seven-time world champion won’t last more than two years with the Italian team. Hamilton, who is set to leave Mercedes after the 2024 season and join Ferrari for the 2025 season, will be 40 years old when he makes the switch. Despite his immense success in F1, winning his last title in 2020, Ecclestone believes Hamilton’s age and motivation levels will work against him at Ferrari.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Ecclestone commented on the move, saying, “He won’t last [two years]. Piero Ferrari, who has taken him there, still thinks they’ve done the right thing. I hope they have. I hope they haven’t just jumped in and end up wishing they hadn’t.” Ecclestone seems skeptical about the longevity of Hamilton’s career with the team and questioned whether Ferrari has made the right decision by bringing him in at this stage in his career.
Ecclestone further explained his concerns by citing Hamilton’s age, believing that the driver may no longer possess the same hunger for victory that he had in his younger years. The 94-year-old former F1 boss argued that Hamilton has already achieved everything in the sport, including winning seven world titles. “If he had never won a world championship, it might be different, because then there would be an incentive to win one. But he has won seven,” Ecclestone said, suggesting that Hamilton may lack the drive necessary to push him to new heights.
Additionally, Ecclestone criticized Hamilton’s fashion choices, suggesting that the driver’s sense of style could be off-putting to some fans. He said, “Lewis gets himself up front in a way where you can dislike him. How a guy who has won a few world titles and has a few dollars in the bank can dress the way he dresses. I’m not a fan of that.” While Ecclestone acknowledged Hamilton’s talent as a driver, he downplayed the extent to which Hamilton is often credited for his racing abilities, claiming that while the British driver has enough talent to win races, he doesn’t think he’s as gifted as some might suggest.
Hamilton is set to make his first official appearance with Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season when he tests the car ahead of the season opener in Melbourne on March 16. The move to Ferrari is a major shift for Hamilton, who has spent his entire career with Mercedes, but it remains to be seen whether the change of scenery will reignite his passion for the sport or if his best years are already behind him.
The upcoming season will also see all ten F1 teams gather at the O2 Arena in London to reveal their new cars and liveries, marking a historic event for the sport.
