Former Formula 1 Chief Ecclestone Advices Hamilton To Retire After 2020 Season

Former formula one chief, Bernie Ecclestone, has advised Lewis Hamilton to quit Formula 1 at the end of the 2020 season, saying he is likely to lose to Charles LeClerc.

Hamilton became a part of the Mercedes team at the beginning of the 2013 season, and he won five driver’s championships along with the one that he attained while driving for McLaren.

His current agreement with Mercedes has him driving until the end of the 2020 season, and he has gone from saying he hopes to get a deal with Mercedes sorted out soon. However, he has admitted these plans depend on whether Toto Wolff will stay with the team.

Another theory has him moving to Ferrari in the future to partner up with LeClerc as Sebastian Vettel retires from the sport. That scenario may be improbable, considering the potential volatility that LeClerc and Hamilton would create being alpha drivers on the same team.

Ecclestone also suggested Mercedes may decide to walk away from the sport after a seventh consecutive title next year.

He has though advised Hamilton to leave Formula 1 instead of battling a younger and increasingly capable LeClerc at Ferrari.

He claimed there has been a change at the top of Mercedes, and the new people are not as enthusiastic about Formula 1 at Mercedes as the older personnel.

His advice to Hamilton is based on team mechanics and the LeClerc’s position at Ferrari versus the waning interest of Mercedes in the sport.

Ecclestone also mentioned Max Verstappen as the other driver with long term future potential. However, his future with Red Bull is not guaranteed, considering he is yet to sign a Red Bull deal after 2020.

Ecclestone did suggest that if Ferrari had a choice between Verstappen and Hamilton for the 2021 season, they would likely go with Verstappen for the same reason they went with Charles.

With Vettel or Hamilton, they would only get a few years, however, with the younger drivers, they will get several of their best racing years as they come into their own.

One reason why a lot of drivers have not confirmed their futures is because of the new regulations set for 2021.

Formula 1 is going to undergo significant changes with the rule makers hoping the races will become safer but more exciting.

Ecclestone does not share the same beliefs, saying the one thing he would change is to get rid of the points. The points should be kept for the Constructor’s Championship.

The driver’s championship would be based on the podium finishes, thus increasing competition significantly.