LEWIS IS PAST IT
Ecclestone tears into struggling Hamilton
WE will get a clue this weekend which of two wise Formula One men is closer to the mark: Bernie Ecclestone or the late Finnish surgeon who was once lewis Hamilton’s rock.
Ecclestone was here by the Caspian Sea yesterday dispensing his opinion of the world champion, who is winless in six races.
‘He’s not the driver he was,’ said the 87- year- old, as shrewd a judge of ‘ horseflesh’ as motor racing has known.
On the other side was the lingering verdict of Aki Hintsa, Hamilton’s old doctor, fixer, mind coach and sounding board. Hintsa, who died of cancer two years ago, opined that Hamilton’s ‘dominant personality’ was a ‘minus plus’ — meaning that he is most adept at turning setbacks ( the minuses) into positive responses.
There is plenty of supporting evidence for this theory, not least from Hamilton’s first championship-winning season, in 2008. Crash (Japan) followed by victory ( China). Despondency one moment (France), walking on water the next (Britain).
But several observers, Ecclestone clearly among them, detect a world-weariness in Hamilton, a slight erosion of the bloodthirsty urge. ‘He does not seem to have quite the same desire,’ added the octogenarian.
Some point to Hamilton’s slump- shouldered demeanour after the last race in China, where he finished fourth and was at a loss to explain why form was proving so elusive.
it was even murmured that he could chuck in the whole grand prix game.
i don’t believe that moment has arrived, for three reasons. He is: a) as competitive as hell; b) has one final, huge contract to bank; c) his immediate post-race dejection is typically wiped away once the recriminations have abated.
Since Shanghai, Hamilton has visited the Mercedes factory in Northamptonshire and taken a break in America.
According to Toto wolff, his team principal, he ‘feels great’. Echoing the Hintsa line, wolff told Sportsmail: ‘it is almost as if lewis needs the difficult moments.’ Hamilton’s contract talks — his current deal expires at the end of the year — have been ‘ parked’, in wolff’s words, while Mercedes tackle a problem more ‘acute’, namely how to keep up with, and then pass, the Ferraris and Red Bulls, which between them have won the opening three races.
Should Hamilton, who is nine points behind Sebastian Vettel, fail to win in Baku tomorrow, his task will take on historical improbability.
Not since Alain Prost in 1989 has a driver failed to win any of the first four rounds and still won the title.
Hamilton’s response? ‘ i am always one for defying the odds.’ The timing screens in practice did not offer reassurance: he was only fifth quickest, 0.8sec behind Daniel Ricciardo, winner last time out, in first place.
Ricciardo’s Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen crashed on the street circuit earlier in the day. He then sat on the kerb while his car was taken away. A perplexed shopper, with a bag over her shoulder and a mobile phone to her ear, stood only a few yards away.
Poor Max is in a rut, and, much as he protests that his confidence remains sky high despite recent tangles brought about by his adventurism, he is clearly feeling the pressure.
There was a rare sighting of Flavio Briatore in the paddock. The wily old goat, who helped to negotiate this race into existence, was trying to blag a place at Mercedes for his driver client, Fernando Alonso.
Hamilton v Alonso ii, now that would be fun. little chance, though.
‘You don’t need another woman when you have a beautiful wife already,’ said wolff.