Former System 1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone has taken one other swipe on the collection’ most profitable driver, Lewis Hamilton, predicting his high-profile transfer to Ferrari will finish in failure.
Hamilton started testing for Ferrari final month after becoming a member of the staff from Mercedes. However Ecclestone doubts he’ll attain the top of his second yr on the staff.
“He received’t final that lengthy,” Ecclestone instructed The Telegraph. “Piero Ferrari, who has taken him there, nonetheless thinks they’ve completed the precise factor. I hope they’ve. I hope they haven’t simply jumped in and find yourself wishing they hadn’t.”
Ecclestone claimed Hamilton will play second fiddle to Charles Leclerc, his new staff mate, who has raced for Ferrari since 2019.
“I don’t assume Lewis will get the identical consideration at Ferrari,” mentioned Ecclestone. “Firstly, the staff are pleased with Charles Leclerc, his staff mate. Leclerc speaks their language, in order that they’ll be taking care of him.
“Even when Lewis does effectively, there’ll nonetheless be a whole lot of enemies, as a result of he has abruptly arrived.”
Hamilton turned 40 within the low season and has raced constantly in F1 since making his debut in 2007. Ecclestone believes that can impact his motivation.
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“I’ve my idea about this,” he mentioned. “It’s not the age with drivers, it’s how lengthy they’ve been doing the identical factor.
“I’ve thought with Lewis, ‘He’s getting drained. He has misplaced motivation.’ If he had by no means received a world championship, it may be totally different, as a result of then there can be an incentive to win one. However he has received seven.”
The 94-year-old, who was changed as F1 CEO eight years in the past, has clashed repeatedly with Hamilton in recent times. Ecclestone’s 2020 declare “black individuals are extra racist than what white individuals are” was described by Hamilton as an “ignorant and uneducated remark.”
Ecclestone got here to the defence of his former driver Nelson Piquet after he used a racist time period whereas referring to Hamilton. He later made feedback in regards to the 2008 season which prompted Felipe Massa to carry a courtroom case aimed toward overturning the results of the championship, which Hamilton received.
Hamilton’s apparel and curiosity in music drew additional criticism from Ecclestone in his newest interview. “Lewis will get himself up entrance in a manner the place you’ll be able to dislike him,” he mentioned.
“How a man who has received just a few world titles and has just a few {dollars} within the financial institution can costume the way in which he attire… I’m not a fan of that.
“He has a whole lot of expertise as a driver. As a lot as folks credit score him with? No, however nonetheless sufficient to win races. I don’t know why he does all this different nonsense. He must get out of the music enterprise and no matter else.”
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