Bernie Ecclestone reckons Toto Wolff is starting to lose patience with Lewis Hamilton


Bernie Ecclestone reckons Toto Wolff is starting to lose patience with Lewis Hamilton

Lewis and Bernie

Lewis Hamilton has been the lead driver at Mercedes since the beginning of the turbo-hybrid era but with the new regulations that have kicked in this year, Bernie Ecclestone believes that he is no more the number 1 driver at the Brackley-based team.

Lewis Hamilton this year has struggled for pace against his new teammate George Russell and hasn’t found it easy going up against the 24-year-old. Hamilton has proved second best to Russell on many occasions this season.

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The 91-year-old Ecclestone feels the stop-start season that Lewis is having is starting to get on the nerves of the Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff.

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While stressing about the peculiar situation at Mercedes Ecclestone said, “Toto is getting a bit fed up with Lewis. I don’t think he’s trying, do you? Let’s put it another way, Lewis doesn’t seem bothered about losing. It’s not like him. He has a competitive nature – but he’s taking losing a bit easy for my liking.”

Lewis Hamilton has so far in his career won 7 world titles and many believe that he is still in the sport to win at least one more title that would make him the outright world record holder, currently, the Brit is tied with Michael Schumacher.

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton

However, given the Mercedes car this year, it is very unlikely that Lewis is gonna get his hands on the title during 2022 and the best bet for the Brit is going to be in 2023.

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Bernie Ecclestone feels that Lewis Hamilton could end his career before the start of the 2023 F1 season

Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton

At the end of last year, a lot of rumors were flying around regarding Lewis Hamilton’s plan in Formula One but all those were put to rest when Hamilton showed up at the 2022 car revealing ceremony.

Bernie Ecclestone is of the view that Mercedes is no more the best team in Formula one and thus feels the Brit could decide to exit from the sport earlier than expected.

While talking about the Brit Ecclestone said, “Lewis might sell his position to Toto. ‘This is how much I am getting, I’ll step down and give me half of what I would get.’ Toto can go and do one of his magic deals, offer someone less money and keep £20m. Nobody needs to tell Toto this because he has already thought of it. Lewis would probably stop under those circumstances.”

Mercedes cars in action in Miami GP
Mercedes

The 91-year-old also said a few words about George Russell and indicated that he has been left a bit surprised by the performances that the young Brit has put in the season but has also indicated that it could be because of the bad form of Lewis Hamilton this season.

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