It’s fair to say Lewis Hamilton has struggled to meet expectations since his move to Ferrari. The seven-time World Champion’s form was already dipping towards the end of his Mercedes stint, and the switch to Maranello hasn’t brought the resurgence many had hoped for.
Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone recently took a dig at Hamilton and Ferrari, claiming the move was nothing more than a marketing stunt.
What Did Bernie Ecclestone Say About Lewis Hamilton’s Move to Ferrari?
Speaking to Sport.de, the recently turned 95-year-old F1 veteran launched a scathing attack on the seven-time world champion after an underwhelming debut campaign for Scuderia.
“Everything is falling apart for him there. He wanted to win the world championship and now looks surprised that he hasn’t,” Ecclestone said. “Hamilton is certainly one of the best of the last ten years, but he is not the very best.”
The former F1 boss labelled the partnership between the record champion and Ferrari “simply a financial marketing project”, saying: “I expect he’ll have greater success in fashion in the future.” In his eyes, Ferrari’s top brass aren’t autocratic enough to steer the team to a World Championship.
“The problem is that Ferrari needs a dictator at the top to succeed. Italian isn’t spoken there — Ferrari is. Everyone in Italy has a say and interferes in what’s right and what’s wrong,” he said. He described Scuderia team boss Frédéric Vasseur as “too weak” and “not a dictator.”
Blaming Hamilton alone for Ferrari’s underwhelming season would be unfair. All year, the SF-25’s rear suspension has plagued the team, repeatedly compromising the car’s performance and leaving Ferrari chasing answers rather than victories.
Keeping the floor at the correct ride height proved a constant challenge for engineers, who were often forced to trade downforce for compliance, sacrificing pace in the process, as seen with the disqualification in China.
According to Spotrac, Hamilton’s current contract pays him $60 million a year, roughly $120 million across two seasons, and extends through the end of 2026.
Though the exact figures haven’t been confirmed, the numbers underline Ferrari’s heavy investment in its star driver.
Ecclestone also talked about the F1 title race. He believes Max Verstappen, the defending champion, will catch up to the McLaren drivers in the fight for the title.
“I think Max will win — and do it again! He’s something special, truly extraordinary. The next race is in Brazil, where the weather can be unpredictable, even wet. I’m confident Verstappen will handle it brilliantly.”
The Briton also praised McLaren and their drivers. However, he thinks Verstappen is the “special one.”
The Dutchman sits 36 points adrift of championship leader Lando Norris. The Brit had recently claimed the top spot with a win in Mexico, but holds just a one-point advantage over Oscar Piastri, with four Grands Prix still to come.