Hamilton Fading? Ecclestone and Wolff Weigh In On Ferrari Move
Nov.11 - Bernie Ecclestone doubts Lewis Hamilton will ever add a record eighth drivers' world title to his tally.
Although the 39-year-old's decision to switch to Ferrari next year caught Toto Wolff by surprise, the Mercedes boss admits it also "helps" Mercedes.
"Because it avoids the moment where we need to tell the sport's most iconic driver that we want to stop," the Austrian told the new book Inside Mercedes F1 - Life In The Fast Lane.
'We're in a sport where cognitive sharpness is extremely important. I like the situation," Wolff, who is replacing Hamilton with 18-year-old protege Kimi Antonelli, added.
"(Football) managers like Sir Alex Ferguson or Pep Guardiola, they anticipated it in the performance of their top stars and brought in junior players that drove the team for the next years."
Indeed, Hamilton has notably struggled alongside teammate George Russell in the new ground-effect era starting in 2022, and last time out in Brazil he even hinted that he'd prefer a "holiday" over finishing the season.
And former F1 supremo Ecclestone doubts Hamilton will shine in red next year.
"I believe he won't," the Briton told the Daily Mail when asked if he thinks Hamilton can race past his and Michael Schumacher's joint record of seven drivers' titles.
"I don't think it will be easy for Lewis. Especially in that team. They will back Charles Leclerc," said Ecclestone. "He's quick and has grown up there. They won't dump him for anyone."
However, from a money-making perspective, Ecclestone thinks Hamilton was wise to accept Ferrari's advances.
"He couldn't exist any longer at Mercedes," he said. "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."
Some think Hamilton might be so disillusioned that he could call off the Ferrari deal altogether
"He would have to walk away from a lot financially," said Ecclestone. "It's 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.
"For John Elkann, the guy who runs it, it was a big ego thing. He thought he had captured the best guy the world had ever seen. 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."
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LuLu is a spent force
Chic will kick his butt
Sir wobble can always blame the car
I hope he won't talk next year about his Ferrari, like he does now about his Mercedes... he will be kicked out in no time then... Ferrari is way bigger than his ego, Italy won't let him do that without giving 'feedback'
Ferrari is not the team you go to join when your talent or career are fading. I thought I'd never hear myself say this, but Lulu has alot to offer Ferrari - and vice versa.
I'd love to see him back in top form kicking ass and taking names. The attributes Hamilton displays like only a couple other drivers in the paddock, are consistency, precision and a burning desire to win. Add to that the experience he brings to every race and I think it'll be an exciting season.
So long as the FIA doesn't keep monkeying around the way they are these days and being anything but fair or even-handed.
Agreed. Only Max is way ahead of anyone else, Lewis’s performance this year is pretty close to the Ferrari and Maclaren drivers and his team mate all in arguably better cars.
Lewis gets on well with Fred and at the moment Charles and Fangio was some way off starting in his first GP at Lewis’s age and then there’s Fernando!
He just needs blondie back in red to.
You trying to wind up stroppy CanE
When Fangio raced , it was only about 8/10 races in the season, not 24, when Fred worked with Lucy , she hadnt won anything and was not a prima ballerina with an ego that she thinks is more important than winning races Wind me up , Not a chance...
Fangio raced in far more than GPS.
Wrong!
Do your research.
Fangio raced in 51 championship Grands Prix and started from the front row 48 times (including 29 pole positions) and set 23 fastest race laps en route to 35 podium finishes, 24 of them victories. To date, no driver past or present has come close to Fangio's race records - 47% wins, 68.6% podiums, 69% pole positions.
In the current era it's easy to race in more than 200 Grands Prix in a comparatively short time.
I apologise to you, Blo. I admit to misreading your post before I wrote my rant!. I missed the key word "than". I thought you wrote Fangio raced in far more GPS, but after I posted my rant I noticed I hadn't read your comment properly.
Sorry about that, and I withdraw my criticism.
Smokey are you referring to me or stroppy. I simply said that Fangio raced in far more than Grand Prig, which he did with great success for 12years before gp’s existed and your last sentence agrees with Stroppy.
No problem Smokey and it was my iPad that misspelt Grand Prix not me but with a bit of luck you didn’t notice!
Don't forget drivers back then were allowed to swap cars with their teammates if their car broke down...
I don't know how many swaps Fangio did, but it certainly helped him during the 1956 Italian GP (last race of the season) to win his 4th title at Ferrari when 15 laps before the end Peter Collins who was able to win the race had to hand his car to Fangio.
Louise will join the long list of highly regarded drivers who have gone to Ferrari and failed! Just like Prost, Mansell, Alonso, who all went to Ferrari seeking further fame and fortune, Louise will sadly not achieve his 8th crown at Ferrari.
I believe Eccles is correct. Louise will be overshadowed by Leclerc. Elkann has made an error of judgement in paying out huge sums for a once great driver who has now lapsed into a has-been!
Don’t forget Smokey a driver is only as good as his car and team. You used to be able to experience that at a much lower level on the road when many cars handled like pigs now they all handle pretty well at sensible speeds at least.
If the 2025 Ferrari is good Lewis will be right up there.
I believe Eccles is correct. Louise will be overshadowed by Leclerc.
Correct
Charlie will get in her head and, ahead on the track.
You may be right but he’s not managed it yet.
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