Former Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has touted Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, amid his difficult 2025 campaign.
Hamilton has, by is own admission, struggled so far this year, and after a particularly low ebb last weekend at Hungary, suggested the team “change driver”.
At the Hungaroring, traditionally a happy hunting ground for the 40-year-old, it was a weekend from hell, qualifying and finishing in 12th.
Despite his own downcast outlook on the weekend, his current and former bosses – Fred Vasseur and Toto Wolff – both backed him to bounce back, as did team-mate Charles Leclerc.
But Ecclestone, speaking to the MailOnline, believes that the seven-time World Champion’s time is up.
“Lewis is very talented, was and probably still is,” he said.
“But like a lot of leading sports personalities when they reach the top, there is only one way to go, and it’s not a good direction. It’s only down.
“They get tired. Lewis is tired. He’s been doing what he is doing forever. He needs a rest from it for good, a total reset to do something completely different.
‘He may not think it but he will soon get used to doing other stuff away from motor racing in retirement. I think he should have done it a while ago.
‘The guy is not a cheat. But he would be cheating himself if he goes on. He should stop now.
‘If I were looking after him I would negotiate with Ferrari immediately and say, ‘If you have someone to replace Lewis, he’ll step aside.'”
Ecclestone backs rookies to take Hamilton’s place at Ferrari
Ecclestone articulated his view further, stating that given all he has achieved, there is no point in Hamilton risking his safety.
“I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to Lewis,” he explained.
“He’s not fighting for a World Championship and is at a stage of his life when it wouldn’t be worth him spending two years laid up in bed with a broken back or anything else nasty.
“He doesn’t need to take the risk any longer. He’s won seven World titles and that is quite enough.”
French rookie Hadjar has produced a number of stellar performances during his maiden season in F1, along with the man he was runner-up to in Formula 2 last year – Gabriel Bortoleto.
Ecclestone believes that either driver is capable of replacing Hamilton.
“If I could steal him, I’d take Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls,” he said. “He has done super well in his first year and is a great guy.
“I also rate our friend from Brazil [Bortoleto]. He is talented. Both of them are sensible, too.”
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