Former F1 supremo's brutal verdict breaks Hamilton fans' hearts

20:09, 30 Jun

byTobia Elia

Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has given his verdict on whether Lewis Hamilton will be able to claim his much-coveted eighth world title before retiring.

After making the incredibly tough decision to leave Mercedes after twelve years and embrace the final great challenge of his career with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton’s hopes of securing an eighth world title—one that would cement him as the most successful driver of all time—are steadily fading.

The British driver is currently experiencing a challenging first season in red, with no podiums so far (excluding the sprint race in China). However, a solid fourth-place finish last weekend in Austria has slightly rekindled the flame of hope for him and his fans.

But now approaching 40 and facing tougher competition than ever, can Hamilton realistically still aim for an eighth title before hanging up his helmet? The answer is no, according to Bernie Ecclestone.

lewis hamilton in canadian grand prix press conference

Ecclestone doubts Hamilton will win a title ever again

The former Formula 1 boss, interviewed by Sky Sports in the Red Bull Ring paddock, gave a blunt response regarding the chances of seeing Lewis crowned world champion one last time.

''No'', he bluntly responded. ''I think there's a period in people's lives when everything's going to work well, or not work well''.

He then added: ''I think he was fortunate enough to be around when... firstly there wasn't so much competition so it was a little bit easier. And now he's got competitors, which when he was winning everything, he didn't have too many people at the top of the tree''.

'' But I hope, I mean, he still can get the job done. Whether he can win the World Championship where he is, it's a completely different story''.