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Former Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has cast doubt on Lewis Hamilton’s ability to thrive at Ferrari, predicting that the celebrated British driver will not 'last' long with the Italian team. Hamilton, who is moving from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, has set his sights on clinching a record-breaking eighth world championship.
Bernie Ecclestone doubts Lewis Hamilton’s long-term success at Ferrari
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, Ecclestone, 94, expressed skepticism about Hamilton’s fit within Ferrari, suggesting that the team might regret the decision to sign the veteran driver.
He won’t last that long, Ecclestone remarked.
Despite Hamilton’s celebrated career, which includes seven world titles, the former F1 chief raised concerns about the long-term dynamics between the driver and the team.
Ecclestone pointed to Piero Ferrari, the company’s vice chairman, who played a significant role in bringing Hamilton on board.
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 said.
Conflict with Charles Leclerc and lack of motivation
One of Ecclestone’s key worries revolves around the potential tension between Hamilton and Ferrari’s current star driver, Charles Leclerc. Leclerc has been Ferrari’s No. 1 driver for several years, and Ecclestone suggests there could be friction as Hamilton adjusts to a new team dynamic.
Additionally, Ecclestone questioned Hamilton’s motivation to continue winning championships. Having already claimed seven world titles, the 38-year-old driver may struggle to maintain the same drive, Ecclestone believes.
I have thought with Lewis, ‘He’s getting tired. He has lost motivation.’ 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, he explained.
A challenging environment at Ferrari
Ecclestone also highlighted the potential challenges Hamilton may face at Ferrari.
The team is happy with Charles Leclerc, his team-mate. Leclerc speaks their language, so they’ll be looking after him, Ecclestone pointed out.
He suggested that even if Hamilton performs well, he could face opposition within the team due to his sudden arrival.
It’s no secret that Ecclestone and Hamilton have had their disagreements in the past. Hamilton strongly criticized Ecclestone after the former F1 chief expressed his respect for Russian President Vladimir Putin during the 2022 Ukraine invasion. Hamilton condemned Ecclestone's remarks, stating,
We don’t need any more of it, to hear from someone that believes in the war... I cannot believe I heard that.
The tension between the two figures was clear, with Hamilton calling for a future focused on peace and positive contributions rather than support for leaders involved in conflicts.
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