Ecclestone urges Lewis to exit after seventh title

BERNIE ECCLESTONE believes Lewis Hamilton should quit Formula One if Mercedes pull out of the sport at the end of next season.

The 89-year-old thinks a clean break would suit the six-times world champion better than seeking a final hurrah with Ferrari.

In the Interlagos paddock ahead of today’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Ecclestone said: ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if Mercedes stopped. There has been change at the top and the new people are not so enthusiastic about Formula One as the old people used to be.

‘They might think we have won seven world championships — which they will have done by the end of next year — so why stay?

‘If I were Lewis I’d think: “I’ve won another title” and I’d stop.

‘If Charles Leclerc stays at Ferrari, I’d put money on him to win against Lewis. He’s not necessarily better but he is established in the team.

‘Ferrari is a strange place to work. Lewis doesn’t speak Italian. They might gang up on him — or fall in love with him — but I don’t think he would do as good a job for himself or the sport as he is doing with Mercedes.’

Hamilton’s £40million-a-year contract is due for renewal at the close of the 2020 season. He has started preliminary talks with team principal Toto Wolff but they will count for nothing if the Daimler board in Stuttgart decide they no longer want to bankroll an F1 programme. Even with a cost cap of £135m coming in for 2021, drivers’ salaries fall outside the restriction.

Ecclestone said: ‘If Ferrari had a choice of Lewis or Max Verstappen I think they would go for Max, for the same reason they like Charles; with Sebastian (Vettel) or Lewis they will only get a couple of years but with the younger two they might get 10 years.

‘I’m not sure Max isn’t the best guy at the moment, including Lewis.’

Meanwhile, Hamilton had to settle for third in last night’s Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying. Verstappen clocked 1:07.508secs to take pole position, with Ferrari’s Vettel second on today’s grid.