P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Ex-F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has criticised Mercedes duo Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.
In 2023, Mercedes came in second place in the constructors’ championship, far behind Red Bull who dominated the season. This marked Mercedes’ first winless campaign since 2011. Bernie Ecclestone, in an interview with Bild, criticized Lewis Hamilton for “failing a bit” and George Russell for not living up to his own expectations. Ecclestone believed that Max Verstappen, the reigning F1 world champion, would be successful in a McLaren, Ferrari, or Mercedes, and credited Christian Horner for his excellent work. He also praised young Australian driver Oscar Piastri, stating that at only 22 years old, Piastri would surely become a champion.
