Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has once again taken aim at Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, calling the partnership an embarrassment. According to Ecclestone, the seven-time World Champion has failed to live up to the expectations the Italian team had when they brought him on board. In his view, Ferrari believed Hamilton could deliver immediate success, but so far, that promise has not materialized.
Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari has been far from stellar, highlighted by setbacks such as his crash at the Dutch Grand Prix. Ecclestone argues that the most disappointing aspect for Ferrari is realizing that what was promised has not been achieved. From his perspective, both the team and the driver must now face the uncomfortable truth that their collaboration has not delivered the anticipated results.
The 94-year-old went even further, suggesting Hamilton should consider retiring from the sport altogether. He warned that if Hamilton continues for another year or two without significant improvement, fans and the wider F1 community could begin to forget his remarkable past achievements. For Ecclestone, walking away now would allow Hamilton to preserve his legacy rather than risk tarnishing it with underwhelming performances.
This isn’t the first time Ecclestone has urged Ferrari to cut ties with Hamilton. In fact, he has previously suggested that the Scuderia should replace the Briton altogether. His latest comments appear to echo Hamilton’s own self-critical statement after Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying, where the driver admitted he felt “useless” following a poor performance. Ecclestone has seized on that remark, implying Hamilton’s struggles have validated his doubts.
Still, not everyone shares Ecclestone’s grim outlook. Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has publicly backed Hamilton, insisting the veteran is showing signs of resurgence. Vasseur pointed out that at Monza, Hamilton was actually quicker than teammate Charles Leclerc, and recent races in the Netherlands and Italy suggest the gap between the two drivers is narrowing. If Hamilton can sustain that upward momentum, he may yet prove Ecclestone wrong as Ferrari eyes a return to title contention with the 2026 regulation changes.
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