Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has taken aim at Lewis Hamilton and even accused the Brit of being desperate for attention.
The sport is just two days away from its first race of the season in Bahrain and the seven-time champion is looking to hit the ground running in 2023. But as he prepares to begin another campaign with Mercedes, one of F1’s senior and most controversial figures has criticised his compatriot’s comments about him last summer.
The row began when Ecclestone controversially suggested Hamilton should “brush aside” a racial slur about him by former world champion Nelson Piquet. Understandably disappointed, Hamilton responded by saying: “I don’t know why we are continuing to give these older voices a platform.”
The 92-year-old took exception to those comments and even suggested that Hamilton was just upset with losing publicity. “Maybe the older generation are not interested in listening to what he has to say," he told The Telegraph. "In general, the older generation have seen a lot more, done a lot more. Maybe, when the older generation are making statements, and some people think they’re correct, he doesn’t like it, because it’s taking up the space that he would normally have.”
Grand Prix weekends have been used as a platform for drivers to raise awareness on societal issues in recent years but F1 bosses are clamping down on 'political gestures' this season. Hamilton still intends to do what he can to increase diversity and equality in the sport, but Ecclestone on the other hand, agrees with the FIA.
“People don’t go to a Formula One race to have a lecture,” the outspoken Ecclestone says. “Definitely drivers should have free speech, but it’s a case of when and how they use it. It’s wrong. It’s all completely wrong. I’m 100 percent against it.”
On the track, both Hamilton and teammate George Russell believe Mercedes had made progress since last season as they bid to bridge the gap to Red Bull. But ahead of the first practice sessions of the season, Hamilton admitted he is resigned to a difficult start to the campaign.
Admitting his team are not "where we wanted to start the season", the former world champion said: “I knew from the moment I drove the car where we were and the challenges we are facing. On a positive note, not having bouncing is a huge plus and trying to understand what the problems were while having bouncing made it difficult to work out what those are.
“We don't have that now and we can focus on pure performance. This still is a multi-championship-winning team and group of people." He added: "Hopefully those behind will continue to apply pressure [to Red Bull].
"Ferrari have a decent package, Aston have a decent package and we are hunting too. I don't think Max will slip up. He is a world champion and I wouldn't question his determination and focus."
