Lewis Hamilton has been told to quit Ferrari (Image: Getty)

What started as a romantic racing saga between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari is now spiraling into a Shakespearean tragedy—and Bernie Ecclestone just lit the match.

The former F1 overlord has delivered a jaw-dropping verdict on Hamilton’s miserable 2025 campaign: quit Ferrari now, take the money, and never look back.

“He’s tired. He needs to walk away—forever,” Ecclestone told The Daily Mail in a blistering interview that’s rocked the F1 world.

For a man who once ruled Formula 1 with an iron fist, Ecclestone’s words still carry weight. And for Hamilton—currently enduring the worst start to a season in his career—the advice hits hard.

From Glory Dreams to Glaring Failures

Hamilton’s highly publicized switch to Ferrari was supposed to be a fairytale final chapter: one last shot at that elusive eighth world title, a chance to end Ferrari’s 18-year championship drought.

But reality has been cruel.

After 14 races, Hamilton hasn’t touched the podium. Not once. Not even close.

He’s 42 points behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, and his qualifying performance in Hungary left even him disgusted.

“Useless,” he described it.
“Ferrari need to change driver.”

A throwaway line? A moment of frustration? Perhaps. But Ecclestone took it literally—and ran with it.

Ecclestone: “He’d Be Cheating Himself”

At 94 years old, Bernie Ecclestone isn’t known for sugarcoating. And when it comes to Hamilton, he didn’t hold back:

“Lewis is very talented, was and probably still is,” he said.
“But when you’ve been at the top for so long, there’s only one way to go—down.”

Ecclestone insists that Hamilton, now 40 years old, has nothing left to prove and everything to lose if he drags on.

“He would be cheating himself if he goes on. He should stop now.”

A Ferrari Flameout?

Few could have predicted such a spectacular collapse for Hamilton in red.

He left Mercedes with high hopes, but the SF-25 car has failed him repeatedly: unstable balance, poor tire management, and baffling strategy calls. Hungary was the final straw.

Even starting behind Logan Sargeant—a backmarker driver many believed Hamilton could outpace blindfolded—he looked lost.

“He needs a rest from it for good, a total reset to do something completely different,” Ecclestone advised.

The implications are huge. Could Ferrari really bench a seven-time world champion mid-season? Could Hamilton voluntarily walk away?

Ecclestone thinks it’s possible—for the right price.

“If I were looking after him, I’d tell Ferrari:
‘Pay out the rest of the £120 million contract, and Lewis will step aside. If you have a replacement, make the switch.’”

What’s Next for Hamilton?

The idea of Hamilton leaving the grid mid-season feels unthinkable. But this isn’t the same driver who once tore through circuits with surgical aggression and fire in his eyes.

This is a man who’s recently opened up about burnout, mental fatigue, and questioning his place in the sport.

He’s also immersed in fashion, music, activism, and was even spotted recently in talks with Apple Studios over an upcoming documentary. Retirement isn’t just looming—it’s calling.

“He may not think it,” Ecclestone said,
“but he will soon get used to doing other stuff away from motor racing.”

Ferrari’s Next Move?

If Hamilton steps aside, Ferrari’s options are… complicated.

Reserve driver Oliver Bearman is still green. Veteran options like Carlos Sainz (now at Audi) could be lured back—but not easily. Rumors even suggest Sebastian Vettel might be tempted by a swan song.

But replacing Hamilton mid-season would be a PR earthquake. It would also confirm what many have feared:

The Ferrari–Hamilton era was doomed before it even began.

End of the Road, or Turning Point?

There’s still time for redemption. Nine races remain. A miracle win, a rain-soaked chaos podium—anything could shift the narrative.

But right now? The story of Hamilton’s Ferrari dream reads like a breakup letter written in tire smoke and broken promises.

And Bernie Ecclestone just signed it with one final suggestion:

“Step aside, Lewis. Save yourself.”