Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone has raised doubts over George Russell’s prospective success with Mercedes, as well as suggesting that Max Verstappen could haunt Lewis Hamilton again in the 2022 season. Significant changes raise many questions over how the battle at the top will play out next year, as fans pray for a continuation of this season’s drama.
One of the most striking changes from Hamilton’s perspective will be a change in team-mate as Valtteri Bottas heads to Alfa Romeo.
That paves the way for Russell’s switch from Williams, with the highly-rated youngster finally getting a chance to prove himself in a competitive car.
Aside from a temporary appearance with the Silver Arrows in 2020 which almost saw him win the Bahrain Grand Prix in Hamilton’s absence, but for a pit-lane mishap, the 23-year-old is broadly an unknown quantity in a title-chasing car.
That has left many to question how he will stack up against the seven-time world champion, who himself will be hunting down Verstappen after his dramatic but controversial Abu Dhabi triumph.
But Ecclestone is clearly not as convinced as other fans when it comes to the young Englishman.
“Lewis could only lose in 2022. Who knows how the new cars will reposition the field,” the 91-year-old told Blick.
“With George Russell he would have an ambitious team-mate, of whom I am not as convinced as many experts, by the way.
“And then we don’t forget about Verstappen. With him, Hamilton has finally found an equal opponent after many years.”
Indeed, Verstappen ran Hamilton all the way in 2021, going into the final weekend level on points and snatching victory on the final lap.
The heat of the battle between the pair is likely to rage on well into next season, however, due to the controversial circumstances which led to the Dutchman’s victory at Yas Marina.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was expected to formally appeal the race result after FIA race director Michael Masi effectively wiped out Hamilton’s lead with one lap remaining.
But that intention was withdrawn ahead of the FIA’s prize-giving gala in Paris last week.
Not much has been heard from the seven-time world champion since the race, with Wolff and Hamilton snubbing the Paris ceremony altogether.
The 36-year-old did, however, receive a knighthood days afterwards, becoming the fourth F1 driver to receive that honour and the first to do so while still competing.
As he ventures deeper into the twilight of his career, Hamilton will have another shot at winning a record-breaking eighth championship in 2022.
But he will have to navigate a new team-mate in Russell, and significant car changes which aim to promote exciting racing and wheel-to-wheel combat to get it done.
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