There is “nothing stopping” the supremacy of Max Verstappen, according to Bernie Ecclestone, who has cautioned Lewis Hamilton and other rivals.
For the first time since calling Vladimir Putin “a first-class person” and backing Nelson Piquet’s racial remark against Lewis Hamilton, the 92-year-old former F1 boss has made an appearance on the paddock for the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
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Ecclestone would be put on a court case in 2023 on charges of not being able to declare £400 million or more. In a discussion with RTL, he said: “Max doesn’t play games. He’s there to win races and win the world championship and he’s doing just that. Nothing is stopping him from doing what he wants to do.”
“Whether he will win more titles depends on whether the team really improves. All the guys who win the championship have to rely on the team. If they don’t have the support of the team, they won’t make it.
“If he keeps that up, the team will continue to support him and there’s nothing stopping them from continuing to win. Everything is good at the moment and there is no reason why it shouldn’t get better.”
The outcome of the hotly debated 2021 season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the F1 budget cap scandal has seemingly overshadowed Verstappen’s impressive back-to-back championship victories.
Regarding Mick Schumacher, whose future with Haas is currently uncertain, he said: “Maybe he needs to forget F1 and focus on other motorsport series.”
“His name is his biggest burden, but he is trying to live up to it as best he can. And that’s what brings him all the problems. That’s why: forget about it and win in another category.”
“I don’t think he is in,” Ecclestone commented in reference to Schumacher’s aspirations of retaining his Haas driver’s seat in the lineup for the next season.
He added: “People were disappointed with his performance – whether it was down to him or the team, we don’t know.”
However, Schumacher retorted through BILD, saying: “It’s hard to forget Formula 1. I love it too much so I won’t do that.”
“Everyone always has an opinion on everything. I care about the opinions of the people I care about.
“Of course my family. And a few other people from Formula 1. For example, Sebastian Vettel. Those are the opinions that matter to me.”
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Sebastian Vettel, the four-time world champion and driver of Aston Martin who will retire at the conclusion of this season, was also mentioned by Ecclestone in his speech. He said that “He has changed.”
He added: “When I first met him, he was a little boy. Very shy and very polite. Now he’s grown into a real man who knows how to take care of himself, knows what he wants to do and who goes on and does it.”
“So it’s a different Sebastian. I don’t know what made him change his direction and attitude. Before, he always had an opinion that he didn’t mention to the people. Now he has an outlet for his opinion, so he lets people know what he thinks. He wants to help everyone and the world in any way he can. I just miss him as a person and as a racer.”
