Bernie Ecclestone pinpoints Ferrari’s biggest issue in Formula 1 and casts doubt on Lewis Hamilton’s title hopes
Bernard Charles Ecclestone, more widely known as Bernie Ecclestone, has been a central figure throughout almost the entirety of Scuderia Ferrari’s long and storied 75-year history in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Despite making his own debut as a racing driver during the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix—an event for which he ultimately failed to qualify—Ecclestone never actually started a Grand Prix as a Formula 1 driver. Nevertheless, his impact on the sport would come later, and in a much more influential manner, as he transitioned into the business and promotional side of Formula One, where he played a pivotal role in transforming it into the global sporting phenomenon it is today.
Throughout the decades, Bernie Ecclestone has personally witnessed some of the most iconic and legendary names in the history of Formula 1 achieve greatness while driving for Ferrari. Drivers such as Niki Lauda, Jody Scheckter, John Surtees, Kimi Räikkönen, and the incomparable Michael Schumacher all clinched World Championship titles while wearing the famous red of the Scuderia. Despite such an illustrious past, it was Finnish driver Kimi Räikkönen who most recently secured a title for the Italian team, winning the World Drivers’ Championship back in 2007. Since that moment of glory, the Maranello-based outfit has been striving in vain to secure what would be their sixteenth individual drivers’ crown, with each passing season intensifying the pressure.
Ecclestone made a special appearance at the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix, hosted at the picturesque Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. For the first time in his long association with Formula 1, he revealed that he would be stepping onto the podium to present medals to the top three finishers—marking a unique occasion. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari was among the recipients, joined by both McLaren F1 Team drivers, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Lewis Hamilton, who is competing in his debut season with Ferrari after leaving the Mercedes team, narrowly missed a podium finish by securing fourth position after a strong performance.
Seven-time World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who currently finds himself dealing with persistent handling and performance issues in Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 challenger, has been unable to fully extract the car’s potential. Yet according to Bernie Ecclestone, the team’s limitations are not limited solely to on-track matters. In his view, Ferrari’s fundamental problem lies deeper, rooted in its current leadership structure and internal dynamics.
Bernie Ecclestone outlines structural flaws within Scuderia Ferrari’s management hierarchy
During a pre-race interview with Sky Sports F1, conducted at the Red Bull Ring, Bernie Ecclestone reflected on the state of Ferrari’s internal operations. He suggested that one of the key issues facing the team is a lack of clearly defined leadership. According to Ecclestone, Ferrari appears to suffer from an overly fragmented management system, where too many individuals are involved in decision-making without a central authoritative figure steering the direction.
He expressed the view that the situation has deteriorated somewhat since internal restructuring took place within the organisation. Ecclestone believes that Ferrari desperately needs a strong and singular voice at the top—someone who can take full control and provide unambiguous guidance. As an example, he pointed to former Ferrari chairman Luca di Montezemolo as the type of decisive leader the team is missing today.
When asked whether current Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur might be at risk of losing his position, Ecclestone responded that he hoped Vasseur would be given the time and support needed to deliver results. He warned against the dangers of constantly changing personnel at the top, remarking that new arrivals often seek to undo the work of their predecessors. This creates a cycle of change that can hinder long-term development. Ecclestone’s message was clear: stability and continuity are essential for success, especially in an environment as complex and competitive as Formula 1.
Bernie Ecclestone skeptical about Lewis Hamilton’s chances of winning an eighth title with Ferrari
The conversation eventually turned to Lewis Hamilton and his hopes of becoming the first eight-time Formula One World Champion in the sport’s history. Currently sitting 125 points behind the 2025 championship leader Oscar Piastri, with 13 Grands Prix still remaining in the season, Hamilton’s path to glory looks increasingly difficult.
Although Lewis Hamilton has signed a multi-year deal with Ferrari, set to run through the end of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, Bernie Ecclestone offered a rather blunt assessment. When asked if he believed the Briton could still secure an eighth title, Ecclestone simply said he did not think it would happen.
Expanding on his thoughts, the former Formula 1 supremo explained that every racing driver goes through peaks and valleys in their career. He suggested that Lewis Hamilton was fortunate to compete during an era when the level of competition at the very top was not as intense as it is now. During Hamilton’s dominant years with Mercedes, Ecclestone believes he did not face as many high-level rivals as he does in today’s field. Now, with younger talents such as Oscar Piastri, Lando Norris, and George Russell consistently delivering strong performances, the challenge for Hamilton is significantly greater.
Nonetheless, Bernie Ecclestone emphasized that Lewis Hamilton still has the skill and determination to succeed. However, he stressed that talent alone might not be enough. Whether Hamilton can bring home a record-breaking eighth World Championship title while driving for Ferrari is, in Ecclestone’s words, “a completely different story.” It will depend on whether Ferrari can provide him with a car capable of consistently challenging for wins—a question that, for now, remains unanswered.
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