By James Broughton, February 10, 2025
Bernie Ecclestone has once again launched a poison-laced barb at Lewis Hamilton, claiming the seven-time world champion lacks the motivation to secure another title. However, the evidence suggests otherwise. At 40 years old, Hamilton could have easily retired from Formula One, having amassed more wealth than he could spend in four lifetimes. Despite this comfort, he ended his Mercedes contract and signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari, aiming for yet another championship. That hardly sounds like someone lacking motivation.
Ecclestone, the former wheeler-dealer F1 ringmaster who earned £2.4 billion during his control of the sport, seems personally averse to Hamilton. Speaking during a recent media interview, Ecclestone strangely criticized Hamilton’s fashion sense and taste in music rather than offering insights about his racing career.
What’s particularly odd is that many F1 drivers, including Charles Leclerc, are involved in commercial ventures beyond racing, such as social media, fashion and music. One might wonder whether Ecclestone’s disdain stems from an outdated, European colonial mindset—a perspective that views Black individuals who challenge norms as troublemakers who should “know their place” in a predominantly white sport.
Ecclestone claims Hamilton won’t last long at Ferrari, despite clear evidence of his remarkable 18-year F1 career. Few drivers remain in the sport for five years, with the best managing ten and only the truly exceptional reaching twelve. Yet, Ecclestone remains conspicuously silent about Fernando Alonso, who has spent 24 years on the F1 grid.
During his recent media interview about Lewis Hamilton, Ecclestone said:
“He won’t last that long, He’s getting tired. He has lost motivation.’ If he had never won a world championship, it might be different, because then there would be an incentive to win one. But he has won seven.”
“The team [Ferrari] is happy with Charles Leclerc, his team-mate. Leclerc speaks their language [Italian], so they’ll be looking after him. Even if Lewis does well, there’ll still be a lot of enemies, because he has suddenly arrived.”
“Lewis gets himself up front in a way where you can dislike him. How a guy who has won a few world titles and has a few dollars in the bank can dress the way he dresses… I’m not a fan of that. He has a lot of talent as a driver. As much as people credit him with? No, but still enough to win races. I don’t know why he does all this other nonsense. He needs to get out of the music business and whatever else.”
