Bernie Ecclestone issues 'watch out' warning as sharp u-turn made

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has performed a U-turn on his claim that Lewis Hamilton should retire from F1, and instead indicated the sport should "watch out for Ferrari" this season.

Ecclestone now feels that Hamilton winning a record eighth F1 drivers' title "would be a great story" for the championship.

The fallout from the controversial end to the 2021 season has hung over the Ferrari driver's head for over four years, and there are numerous people from within the paddock, including some fellow drivers, who already consider that contentious crown to be Hamilton's.

That is to take nothing away from Max Verstappen. The Dutchman won his first title in the dramatic and ill-fated showdown at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when race director Michael Masi interpreted the rulebook in a previously unseen way whilst presiding over the closing stages of the event.

In doing so, it provided the Red Bull driver the opportunity to strike, and the episode prevented history from being made.

When Hamilton left Mercedes for Ferrari at the end of the 2024 season, high expectations went with him. However, the first year of the iconic partnership fell flat, with the British driver failing to reach the podium all campaign.

His self-criticism in the press and lack of performance led multiple names of note to question his long-term future in F1, with many imploring him to retire, including Ecclestone.

However, he appears to have had a change of heart after Ferrari's impressive showing during pre-season testing at the Bahrain International Circuit.

"Watch out for Ferrari," the 95-year-old British business magnate told RTL/ntv and sport.de about the year ahead.

"I hope Ferrari has a say in the matter. Formula 1 would benefit if Ferrari became world champion."

Whilst all teams conceal their true pace during testing, early indications are that the Scuderia is right up at the sharp end with favourites Mercedes — plus the Italian team displayed considerably better race start simulations in Sakhir than its rivals.

Addressing Hamilton's situation and his hunt for an eighth championship directly, Ecclestone added: "He doesn't want to give up, doesn't want to stop without having achieved it.

"Maybe it will work out this year. That would be a great story."