Ecclestone states that Hamilton "won't remain for long" at Ferrari.

      Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone believes that Lewis Hamilton has "lost motivation." While some support the 40-year-old's daring decision to switch from Mercedes to Ferrari, others view it as primarily a marketing and financial move for both Ferrari and the seven-time world champion. Ecclestone doesn’t think Hamilton will stay for the duration of his contract. "He won’t last that long," the 94-year-old remarked. "Piero Ferrari, who has brought him on board, still believes they’ve made the right choice," Ecclestone continued. "I hope they haven’t jumped in only to regret it later."

      Since his streak of titles ended with a loss to Max Verstappen in 2021, Hamilton has faced challenges in the new ‘ground effect’ era. Some attribute this to his advancing age. "It’s not about age with drivers," Ecclestone contends. "It’s about how long they have been engaged in the same activity. I’ve thought of Lewis, ‘He’s getting tired. He has lost motivation.’ If he had never clinched a world championship, it might be different, because there would be more incentive to win one. But he has already won seven."

      Ecclestone believes Hamilton will face difficulties as Charles Leclerc’s new teammate. "The team is satisfied with Charles Leclerc," he stated. "Leclerc understands their language, so they will be supporting him. Even if Lewis performs well, he will still have many critics because of his sudden arrival."

      Ecclestone expressed that Hamilton risks polarizing and alienating those around him. "Lewis positions himself in a way that makes him difficult to like," he admitted. "How can a guy who has won multiple world titles and has plenty of money dress the way he does? I’m not a fan of that. He has significant talent as a driver. Is it as much as many claim? No, but it’s still enough to win races. I don’t understand why he engages in all this other nonsense. He should step away from the music industry and everything else."