After a mid-season phase that reignited old sensations, particularly thanks to his two victories at Silverstone and Spa, Lewis Hamilton is now experiencing a lackluster final third of the season. He himself seems eager for his last year with Mercedes to come to an end. Since the summer break, his best result remains a fourth place at the Mexican GP, where he prevailed in a duel with George Russell. However, the tough weekend in Interlagos, where the comparison with his teammate was starkly unfavorable, has fueled doubts among those who believe Ferrari’s signing of the seven-time world champion comes too late, just as he is about to turn 40.
Ecclestone: “It won’t be easy for Hamilton at Ferrari”
Among those skeptical about Hamilton’s adventure in Maranello is Bernie Ecclestone. In an interview with the Daily Mail, the former F1 Supremo shared his concerns: “I don’t think it will be easy for Lewis, especially in that team. They will support Charles Leclerc: he’s fast, he grew up there, and they won’t drop him for anyone.”
Nonetheless, the 94-year-old does not consider Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari a mistake: “From Lewis’s perspective, it might not have been a mistake to join Ferrari. He could no longer exist at Mercedes. Either he gave up on them, or they gave up on him. They wouldn’t do much to keep him, so it’s better for him to leave.” Ecclestone also commented on Hamilton’s decision not to consider retirement: “Hamilton would have had to give up a lot financially. That’s a big issue for him, although I suspect the bonus clauses in his contract are there to make him feel quite good about it.”
Is the best behind him?
The final part of 2024 could suggest that Lewis Hamilton, who will turn 40 next January, has definitively entered the decline of his career: “If Lewis has entered the twilight of his career, which I don’t like to see, he should step away and do something else, and do it well,” Ecclestone advised. However, the Briton believes John Elkann’s decision to hire the seven-time champion was not a mistake: “For John Elkann, it was a big ego issue. He thought he had brought in the best guy the world had ever seen. When he signed him, there was nothing to suggest he was wrong in that assessment. Whether he’s still happy with that decision is another story. Only time will tell.”
One who believes Lewis Hamilton’s best days are behind him is Jeremy Clarkson. In his column for The Sun, the former Top Gear presenter delivered his usual biting commentary: “Lewis Hamilton is past his prime. He blamed his car for his poor qualifying session, but his teammate George Russell was on the front row. Sure, it’s possible that since Lewis will be moving to Ferrari next year, the team is filling his fuel tank with barley water and lemon instead of petrol. But that seems unlikely. It’s much more likely that he’s simply too old now.”
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