Bernie Ecclestone, a former head of Formula One, thinks Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, is "a bit fed up" with Lewis Hamilton.
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Bernie Ecclestone believes that Lewis Hamilton may decide to leave Formula One before his contract expires at the end of the 2023 season because he found it difficult to keep up with his new teammate George Russell during the first nine race weekends of their 2022 season. Bernie Ecclestone, a former head of Formula One, thinks Toto Wolff, the head of Mercedes, is “a bit fed up” with Lewis Hamilton.
Ecclestone, who is no longer in control of F1 after handing the reins over to Liberty Media six years ago, may not have attended a Grand Prix in two years, but the 91-year-old still maintains tight ties to many of the sport’s leading lights after more than 40 years in charge.
“Lewis might sell his position to Toto. This is how much I am getting, I’ll step down and give me half of what I would get’. Toto can go and do one of his magic deals, offer someone less money, and keep £20 million. Nobody needs to tell Toto this because he has already thought of it. Lewis would probably stop under those circumstances. I don’t know what he is doing dressing up in all those funny clothes. Has he a deal to it? Is it to get noticed? Maybe that’s it.” said Ecclestone.
Ecclestone believes that despite Hamilton’s self-described desire, his heart may not be as much in the sport as his performance and attitude suggests otherwise, now that George Russell is bettering himself race by race this season he has Hamilton’s number during most Grand Prix weekends this year. “I didn’t think [Russell] was that good but he has done an excellent job. I’m surprised. Or is it a case of Lewis doing a bad job? A bit of both.” expressed Ecclestone.
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Ecclestone claimed he thinks Hamilton to be more blasé about the situation than when he was younger, in reference to Wolff’s several apologies over team radio for the lack of competitiveness of the W13, including labeling the vehicle a “s**tbox”. “Toto is getting a bit fed up with Lewis. I don’t think he’s trying, do you?” he questioned. Let’s put it another way, Lewis doesn’t seem bothered about losing.
“It’s not like him. He has a competitive nature but he’s taking losing a bit easy for my liking. I don’t think he is actively helping George. I don’t think he’s doing anything. I don’t think he cares too much. He’s not prepared to put the effort into winning that he did.” said the former Formula One Chief.
