Lewis Hamilton trashed as Bernie Ecclestone comments on doing a deal with Christian Horner

Bernie Ecclestone has launched a scathing attack on Lewis Hamilton, dismissing the seven-time world champion's prospects of securing another title. The Formula One supremo and former chief executive also suggested it might be time for the 40-year-old to call time on his career.

Hamilton's woes at Ferrari persisted during Saturday's qualifying session in Hungary, where he could only manage 12th place on the grid for Sunday's Grand Prix. The Brit currently sits sixth in the championship standings, with any realistic hopes of mounting a title challenge in 2025 already extinguished.

The ex-Mercedes driver had been expected to experience a revival at the Italian outfit following his surprising switch from the Silver Arrows at the conclusion of last season.

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When quizzed by Sky Sports about rumours linking him and axed Red Bull team boss Christian Horner to a potential takeover at Alpine, Ecclestone delivered a withering response: "More chance of Lewis winning his eighth title than that happening."

Pressed to expand on his comments, he continued: "I think Lewis has done a fantastic job. He's still super talented. But I think maybe he ought to move over a little bit. Be terrible if something happened to him now," reports the Express.

The veteran motorsport figure also touched upon Horner's departure after two decades leading Red Bull, acknowledging he had associates within the team who were involved in the dismissal and arguing they needed to act decisively once the choice was made.

"Maybe it was a little bit ruthless to do it in the way they did it," he commented. They didn't have much choice. They decided this is what they were going to do and that's it. They had to get on it and do it."

He also expressed scepticism about the Englishman's return to F1, saying: "I don't know how and where, or whether he wants to do it. Because the position he really wanted at Red Bull was to own part of the team."

Ecclestone has spent time in Hungary this week, attending as a special guest at an event on Thursday celebrating the 40th F1 Grand Prix at the revamped Hungaroring. Hamilton was visibly emotional after Saturday's qualifying, where he had failed to make the top 10. Following a disappointing Q2 exit, the Brit is set to start Sunday's race 12th on the grid.

The racing icon was in a despondent mood when speaking to Sky Sports after qualifying and when asked what went wrong, he said: "It's just me, every time. I'm useless, absolutely useless.

"The team has no problem – the other car is on pole. They probably need to change driver." The mood between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc couldn't be more opposite, given that the latter secured his first pole position of the season.

Speaking after claiming pole, a smiling Leclerc said: "I don't understand anything in Formula 1. The whole qualifying was extremely difficult Q3, everything became a lot trickier, I just knew it had to be a clean lap.

"I definitely did not expect that. We are on pole position, I have no words, probably one of the best I've ever had, the most unexpected for sure."