Bernie Ecclestone has taken a swipe at Lewis Hamilton by writing off his chances of winning another world championship. Ecclestone, the founder and former CEO of the Formula One group, also implied it was time for the 40-year-old to retire.
Hamilton’s struggles at Ferrari this season continued in Hungary on Saturday, only qualifying 12th for today’s Grand Prix. He currently lies sixth in the drivers’ standings, with his hopes of a title charge in 2025 already over. The former Mercedes man had been tipped to be resurgent at the Scuderia following his shock move from the Silver Arrows at the end of last year.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Ecclestone took aim after being asked about speculation he and sacked Red Bull team principal Christian Horner would be joining forces to takeover Alpine. He replied: “More chance of Lewis winning his eighth title than that happening.”
Asked to elaborate, he added: “I think Lewis has done a fantastic job. He’s still super talented. But I think maybe he ought to move over a little bit. Be terrible if something happened to him now.”
He did also address the dismissal of Horner after 20 years at the helm at Red Bull. Admitting he had friends at the team involved in the sacking, Ecclestone argued they had to be swift once the decision was made.
“Maybe it was a little bit ruthless to do it in the way they did it,” he said. “They didn’t have much choice. They decided this is what they were going to do and that’s it. They had to get on it and do it.”
He also doubted whether the Englishman would have return to F1, adding: “” dont know how and where, or whether he wants to do it. Because the position he really wanted at Red Bull was to own part of the team.”
Ecclestone has been in Hungary this week. on Thursday, he was a special guest at an event to celebrate the 40th F1 Grand Prix at the renewed Hungaroring.