Bernie Ecclestone has suggested Sir Lewis Hamilton should retire from Formula 1 sooner rather than later as he has little chance of winning an eighth title.
His comments come just a day after a downtrodden Hamilton claimed Ferrari should replace him following a poor qualifying performance for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion will start the race at the Hungaroring from 12th on the grid and, to run salt into the wound, teammate Charles Leclerc is on pole ahead of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.
The most successful driver in the sport’s history, Hamilton has endured a difficult few seasons since controversially losing the title to Max Verstappen in 2021.
A dream-fulfilling move to Ferrari this year was meant to revitalise the 40-year-old but his struggling form has continued and he is yet to finish on the podium for his new team.
While there is hope that the new 2026 regulations may see him return to title contention, former F1 supremo Ecclestone isn’t convinced.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ecclestone was asked if there was a chance of him teaming up with axed Red Bull boss Christian Horner to buy an F1 team, as has been rumoured.
‘I think there’s more chance of Lewis winning his eighth title than that happening,’ the 94-year-old replied.
‘I think Lewis has done a fantastic job and is still super talented. I think maybe he ought to sort of move over a little bit.
‘It’d be terrible if something happened to him now, that’s what’s bad.’
Hamilton’s contract with Ferrari expires at the end of 2026, though there are options to extend it, and the Brit has previously said he plans to keep racing into his mid-40s.
‘Christian Horner doesn’t want to return to F1’
Ecclestone labelled Horner an ‘idiot 50-year-old who thought he was 20’, after he was dismissed by Red Bull in July.
Horner has been linked with making a comeback to the grid, either as a team principal or co-owner but Ecclestone can’t see it happening, adding: ‘At the moment, I think it’s still a bit of a shock for him.
‘So he will gradually get over this and realise there are other things in the world to do and he’ll get on and do them.
‘I have made it known to friends there [at Red Bull] that maybe it was a little bit ruthless, to do it in the way that they did it but they didn’t have much choice.
‘They decided this was what they were going to do and they had to get on and do it.
‘I don’t know how or where or whether he wants to [come back to F1]. He probably doesn’t want to because the position he really wanted at Red Bull was to own part of the team.
‘Unless he gets somebody to put the money up to buy a team, I can’t see it happening.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.