Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has expressed palpable concern for Lewis Hamilton, signaling an ominous warning for the seven-time world champion amidst his challenging debut season with Ferrari. This surprising shift comes from a long-standing critic, underscoring the severity of Hamilton’s current predicament within the high-stakes world of motorsport.
Hamilton’s transition to the iconic Italian team has been fraught with difficulties, culminating in a particularly dismal performance where he openly declared himself “useless” to reporters, suggesting Ferrari “probably need a new driver.” This candid admission followed a qualifying session where his teammate impressively placed the same Ferrari car on pole position, highlighting the stark contrast in their on-track fortunes and intensifying scrutiny on the British driver.
Ecclestone, who masterfully guided Formula 1 for decades until 2017, offered a telling perspective on Hamilton’s recent struggles. While acknowledging Hamilton’s immense talent and fantastic career, he subtly suggested it might be time for the star driver to “move over a little bit.” This advice, coming from such a venerable figure in Formula 1 news, carries significant weight and suggests a potential shift in the sport’s pecking order.
The conversation around Hamilton’s future further deepened as Ecclestone playfully quipped about the driver’s pursuit of Michael Schumacher’s record of seven world titles. This remark implicitly linked Hamilton’s current trajectory to the broader landscape of team dynamics and potential leadership changes within the Formula 1 paddock, suggesting that personal struggles can intertwine with major industry shifts.
Adding another layer to the intricate motorsport narrative, Ecclestone’s comments were made in reaction to the news of Christian Horner’s recent departure from Red Bull. Horner, a figure synonymous with Red Bull’s remarkable success, had steered the Austrian-British squad to an astounding eight drivers’ titles and six constructors’ titles over two decades, establishing an unparalleled legacy in Formula 1.
Following his high-profile sacking on July 9, Horner has been persistently linked with a swift return to the Formula 1 arena. His proven track record of building championship-winning teams makes him a highly sought-after commodity, with whispers of various teams vying for his strategic acumen to reshape their own motorsport ambitions.
Among the teams rumored to be pursuing Horner, Alpine has emerged as a prominent candidate, given their well-documented managerial upheavals and a clear need for stability and strategic direction. Furthermore, Horner’s established close relationship with current Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore lends significant credence to these speculations, potentially paving the way for a dramatic reshuffle in the Formula 1 leadership.
