Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that Toto Wolff is getting "a bit fed up" with Lewis Hamilton, who the former F1 boss believes isn't "trying" in 2022. It has not been an easy start to the season for Mercedes, but Hamilton seems to have struggled more than new teammate George Russell, with the younger driver finishing ahead at seven out of nine races so far. Hamilton is contracted to continue racing with the Silver Arrows until the end of 2023. However, Ecclestone has questioned whether the seven-time World Champion could walk away sooner. "Lewis might sell his position to Toto," Ecclestone told the Daily Mail . '"This is how much I am getting, I'll step down and give me half of what I would get'. Toto can go and do one of his magic deals, offer someone less money and keep £20 million. "Nobody needs to tell Toto this because he has already thought of it. Lewis would probably stop under those circumstances. "I don't know what he is doing dressing up in all those funny clothes. Has he a deal to it? Is it to get noticed? Maybe that's it."
Ecclestone on Hamilton: I don't think he cares too much
Ecclestone has been surprised to see Russell beating Hamilton, and thinks that the latter is not putting the same effort in that he used to. "I didn't think [Russell] was that good but he has done an excellent job," the former F1 CEO said. "I'm surprised. Or is it a case of Lewis doing a bad job? A bit of both. "Toto is getting a bit fed up with Lewis. I don't think he's trying, do you? Let's put it another way, Lewis doesn't seem bothered about losing. "It's not like him. He has a competitive nature but he's taking losing a bit easy for my liking. "I don't think he is actively helping George. I don't think he's doing anything. I don't think he cares too much. He's not prepared to put the effort into winning that he did."
Hamilton's back pain issues questioned
Hamilton was vocal about the back pain that he experienced during the recent Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a race in which the W13 was experiencing a lot of bouncing. The Briton seemed to struggle to get out of his car at the end of the race, but Ecclestone has cast doubt on how much Hamilton was really suffering. "All b*******," Ecclestone commented on the matter. "George is taller and if it was going to happen to anyone it would have happened to him. "There was a bit of Nigel Mansell about it. At least with Nigel, he would get out of the car and rub his left leg as if he had broken it. Next moment, it would be his right leg."
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