Ecclestone Blasts Hamilton's Ferrari Move as 'Marketing Project'

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has delivered a scathing assessment of Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari, labeling it a "financial marketing project" and criticizing the team's leadership under Fred Vasseur.

Why it matters:

Ecclestone's blunt remarks highlight the immense pressure on Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to deliver results. For Hamilton, his pursuit of an unprecedented eighth world title hinges on this partnership, while Ferrari's long-standing championship drought adds another layer of expectation. This criticism from a highly influential figure in F1 history underscores the high stakes and scrutiny surrounding one of the sport's biggest recent driver moves.

The Details:

• Hamilton's Performance: Despite finding improved pace in the latter half of the F1 2025 season, Hamilton currently trails his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc by 64 points and has yet to secure a podium finish with the Scuderia.
• Ecclestone's View on Hamilton: Ecclestone stated that Hamilton is "one of the best of the last ten years, but he's not the best." He suggested that Hamilton, who aimed to win a world championship with Ferrari, is now "surprised that he can't do it" as "everything is slipping away from him there."
• Ferrari's Leadership: Ecclestone also targeted Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, claiming he lacks the "dictator" style of leadership necessary for Ferrari's success. He argued that at Ferrari, "Everyone in Italy has a say and interferes in what is right and wrong," rather than operating with a unified vision.
• Long-Term Project: Hamilton himself acknowledges the long-term nature of the project, stating in a Ferrari Magazine interview, "Everyone expects to win straight away, but Rome wasn't built in a day." He emphasized that understanding how an F1 team truly operates takes time, even for an experienced driver like himself.
• Constructors' Championship Battle: Hamilton's immediate focus includes helping Ferrari in their F1 2025 Constructors' Championship quest, where they currently hold P2, one point ahead of Mercedes and 10 ahead of Red Bull.

What's next:

With four rounds remaining in the F1 2025 season, Hamilton aims to build momentum as he looks toward the significant chassis and engine regulation changes coming for F1 2026. Resolving the team's internal dynamics and establishing a clear path to performance will be crucial if Hamilton and Ferrari are to overcome their current struggles and challenge for championships in the new era of Formula 1.