4 days ago
Formula 1 supremo hits Lewis Hamilton with blunt reality check
Lewis Hamilton has been told to quit F1 and demand his $AUD370 million Ferrari contract is paid in full.
The seven-time world champion caused shockwaves at the Hungarian Grand Prix last weekend after admitting he was 'absolutely useless'.
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Hamilton, 40, finished 12th in qualifying and called for Ferrari to 'change driver' after the result.
He was equally as despondent after finishing 12th in the Grand Prix, and now Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has told him to quit the sport.
'Lewis is very talented, was and probably still is,' Ecclestone told the Daily Mail.
'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.''
Hamilton has not got off to the best start in his three-year contract with Ferrari, which is worth $A123m a season.
His teammate Charles Leclerc qualified on pole in Hungary and has out qualified Hamilton ten times, with the Brit quicker on just two occasions.
He has also failed to podium in 14 attempts with his only success this season coming in China when he won the sprint race.
Ecclestone shared concern for Hamilton and advised him to retire to avoid the risk of racing.
'I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to Lewis,' he added.
'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.'
The Formula 1 supremo said if Hamilton were to step aside, Ferrari should target Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar or Kick Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto to drive alongside Leclerc.
