has been urged to cease his vibrant non-racing forays by – with the previous supremo labelling Hamilton’s pursuits as “nonsense.”
Hamilton, the seven-time F1 world champion, has made a highly-anticipated to this 12 months after 12 years and 6 titles at Mercedes.
The British driver, now 40, is determined to win an eighth world title which might put him above Ferrari legend within the all-time championship listing.
But Ecclestone, who has had with Hamilton, believes Hamilton is not going to even final the size of his two-year contract on the Scuderia and made his emotions clear on the Brit’s style decisions and different ventures.
“Lewis will get himself up entrance in a means the place you’ll be able to dislike him,” Ecclestone, 94, instructed .
“How a man who has gained just a few world titles and has just a few {dollars} within the financial institution can gown the way in which he attire? I’m not a fan of that.
“He has a whole lot of expertise as a driver. As a lot as individuals credit score him with? No, however nonetheless sufficient to win races. I don’t know why he does all this different nonsense. He must get out of the music enterprise and no matter else.”
Requested additional about Hamilton’s two-year deal at Ferrari, Ecclestone replied: “He gained’t final that lengthy. Piero Ferrari, who has taken him there, nonetheless thinks they’ve carried out the correct factor.
“I hope they’ve. I hope they haven’t simply jumped in and find yourself wishing they hadn’t.”
Hamilton condemned Ecclestone two years in the past and insisted the 94-year-old after the ex-F1 supremo said he would for Russian president Vladimir Putin just a few months after Russia invaded Ukraine.
But Ecclestone has now theorised about Hamilton’s age, with solely three drivers in F1 historical past having gained a world championship of their 40s – and the final time got here 59 years in the past with Sir Jack Brabham.
“I don’t suppose Lewis will get the identical consideration at Ferrari,” Ecclestone says. “Firstly, the staff are pleased with Charles Leclerc, his team-mate. Leclerc speaks their language [he’s fluent in Italian], so that they’ll be taking care of him.
“Even when Lewis does properly, there’ll nonetheless be a whole lot of enemies, as a result of he has out of the blue arrived.
“It’s not the age with drivers, it’s how lengthy they’ve been doing the identical factor.
“I’ve thought with Lewis, ‘He’s getting drained. He has misplaced motivation.’ If he had by no means gained a world championship, it is perhaps completely different, as a result of then there can be an incentive to win one. However he has gained seven.”
Hamilton’s value to Ferrari, ought to he win a world title this 12 months, and he has spent current weeks acclimatising to his new environment with in Fiorano and Barcelona.
The British driver can be current on the 10-team at The O2 Area in London on Tuesday 18 February earlier than Ferrari launch their 2025 automobile a day later in Maranello.
The official pre-season check is in Bahrain from 26-28 February earlier than Hamilton’s first race in Ferrari pink, the Australian Grand Prix, on 16 March.
