Ecclestone Discusses Verstappen's Future and Continues Charge Against Hamilton
Aug.28 - Max Verstappen has been warned not to join Ferrari after 2026 by former F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone.
"If he goes to Ferrari, that would be the end of his career. Let's hope that doesn't happen," the 94-year-old told sport.de.
Ecclestone, a frequent critic of both Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, said Verstappen can succeed anywhere else other than Maranello. "He can always turn a good team into a winning team," said the Briton.
Hamilton, now 40, is enduring a tough first season in red. Ecclestone thinks it's time for change.
"They have to choose an up-and-coming driver. I would take the Brazilian (Gabriel) Bortoleto, who I think will be very good, or Isack Hadjar.
"Bortoleto will do the job. Put him in the right car and you'll see."
Ferrari, Ecclestone added, still suffers from poor leadership. "Unfortunately, the wrong people were chosen," he said. "They need someone to bring a few people along."
Returning to Hamilton, Ecclestone continued: "The most embarrassing thing, in my opinion, for Lewis and Ferrari is that they believed he would be able to deliver all the things that were necessary. They must be disappointed that what was supposed to be delivered was not delivered."
Another F1 great, Gerhard Berger, told Austria's Kronen Zeitung that Hamilton must now adjust to being behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
"Lewis was always used to being number 1 in a team," said the former Ferrari driver. "Now Leclerc has him under control.
"But this is more of a morality tale - status shouldn't play a role. Lewis is struggling with it, but he has to get out of it himself and get the car and his teammate under control.
"It's entirely up to him."
Ecclestone, meanwhile, praised current points leader Oscar Piastri. "He gets the job done," he said of the McLaren driver.
"When he makes mistakes, he knows he made them and doesn't blame others or make excuses," he added. "He makes sure he doesn't repeat the mistakes. He doesn't make them twice.
"He's the best driver after Max Verstappen."
8 F1 Fan comments on “Ecclestone Discusses Verstappen's Future and Continues Charge Against Hamilton”
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It would have to be a truly exceptional driver to be considered better than Max.
He has a truly instictive feel for the car and can do things with a car that others just can't do.
The other drivers , considering egos involved, will all consider they are the best but Max really is exceptional. He had the perfect training from a young ageto be a F1 driver but to deliver what he has been able to do he has exceptional talent.
There’s an awful lot of rubbish talked by people who should know better. Any driver needs the best car and the best team in order to win. Even Max is only as good as his car allows him to be as we’re seeing right now in contrast to 2023 and 2022 when he had the best car and zero competition, that’s F1. Years like 2021 are very rare when two cars and teams are so close.
Max out drives the car, not sure any other top drivers in other teams do that
Which season did he do that? Was it not Newley’s car?
er, this year, or have his less amount than normal, outstanding performances all been because of the cars greatness would you say
For the reigning world champion in a Newey car, hardly out standing. Ninth last time out!
For the reigning world champion in a Newey car, hardly out standing. Ninth last time out!
So the twice he has won, your saying the cars was terrible and Max was brilliant right, by your reckoning I agree
Nope, as we both know race to race the cars are very erratic at the moment and hard to set up (except Maclaren). The most consistent part of the package are the drivers, often within hundreds of a second of their teammate.
Max may well be brilliant but he still needs a car that is competitive on the day and even Newey creations are not always that.