Lewis Hamilton raised doubts over his personal Components 1 future on the Hungarian Grand Prix when he responded to his qualifying nightmare by saying Ferrari ‘ought to change driver’
Bernie Ecclestone thinks Ferrari ought to look in direction of two Components 1 rookies when figuring out a possible substitute for Lewis Hamilton. However the 94-year-old former F1 supremo didn’t point out the identify of Oliver Bearman who’s the one truly being ready by Ferrari as Hamilton’s eventual successor.
Hamilton’s future is firmly within the highlight proper now on account of his feedback on the Hungarian Grand Prix. After qualifying twelfth in Budapest, the seven-time F1 champion declared himself “ineffective” and stated his group “in all probability want to alter driver”.
His temper was not significantly better a day later when he didn’t make any progress within the race and completed the place he began, one lap down on the leaders. However Hamilton did at the very least inform reporters that he could be again after the summer time break and that he nonetheless loves racing.
Ferrari group principal Frederic Vasseur has additionally jumped to the defence of his driver and it’s understood that the group is just not even starting to entertain the concept of changing Hamilton, both throughout this season or earlier than the tip of his contract which presently runs till the tip of 2026.
In the event that they have been to make a change, they’d in idea flip to considered one of their reserve drivers, Zhou Guanyu and Antonio Giovinazzi, each of whom are former F1 racers with Sauber, or British academy graduate Bearman who’s presently plying his commerce with buyer group Haas and who’s seen as Hamilton’s eventual successor.
However Bernie Ecclestone believes there are a few different rookies on the grid who must also be thought of. “If I might steal him, I’d take Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls,” the previous F1 supremo informed Mail Sport.
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“He has achieved tremendous effectively in his first yr and is a good man. I additionally fee our pal from Brazil [Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto]. He’s gifted. Each of them are wise, too.”
Whereas it’s unlikely that Hamilton will quit on his dream of successful an eighth F1 title simply but, Ecclestone believes it’s time for the 40-year-old to maneuver on. He stated: “Lewis could be very gifted, was and possibly nonetheless is. However, like loads of main sports activities personalities after they attain the highest, there is just one solution to go, and it’s not a very good path. It is just down.
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“They get drained. Lewis is drained. He has been doing what he’s doing perpetually. He wants a relaxation from it for good, a complete reset to do one thing utterly totally different. He might not assume it, however he’ll quickly get used to doing different stuff away from motor racing in retirement. I believe he ought to have achieved it some time in the past. The man is just not a cheat. However he could be dishonest himself if he goes on. He ought to cease now.
“If I have been taking care of him I’d negotiate with Ferrari instantly and say, ‘In case you have somebody to interchange Lewis, he’ll step apart. He’s not preventing for a World championship and is at a stage of his life when it might not be price him spending two years laid up in mattress with a damaged again or the rest nasty. He doesn’t must take the danger any longer. He has received seven world titles and that’s fairly sufficient.”
