Former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has once again made headlines with his outspoken views on the biggest stars and teams in the sport. In an exclusive interview with RTL, the 95-year-old former Formula 1 supremo accused McLaren of favouring Lando Norris over his teammate, Oscar Piastri; questioned Ferrari’s management structure; and offered a scathing opinion on Lewis Hamilton’s future in the sport.
Ecclestone also predicted that Max Verstappen would make a late push to reclaim the World Championship title.
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McLaren favoritism allegations
Ecclestone believes that the battle for the 2026 World Championship within McLaren has unfairly favoured Norris.
“Yes, that’s how it looks. McLaren favours Norris in the second half of the season,” he said.
He believes that Piastri started the year as the stronger of the two drivers, showing pace and composure in the early rounds, but has since been held back by the team’s “various methods”. Although he stopped short of naming specific examples, Ecclestone implied that McLaren’s internal decisions have cost Piastri valuable points and momentum in the title race.
He went on to suggest that McLaren’s decision to favour Norris is driven by commercial considerations rather than sporting fairness.
“McLaren prefers the English driver Norris,” he said.
“He has more star power and marketing potential, and he has more camera presence and public exposure. That’s why it’s probably better for McLaren.”
For Ecclestone, this pattern mirrors the business-driven decision-making that he has long criticised within modern Formula 1. While he acknowledged that McLaren had built a strong car and nurtured two exceptional young drivers, he argued that the team’s management was focusing too much on branding and this could undermine the sporting integrity of its operations.
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The effect of McLaren’s “Papaya Rules”
Ecclestone also criticised McLaren’s internal policies, describing them as the “Papaya Rules” – a reference to the team’s papaya-orange colour scheme and structured approach to team orders.
“You can tell Piastri is upset and tired of them, and the discussions about them are getting on his nerves,” he claimed.
“The pressure is constantly increasing, and Piastri is frustrated that he can no longer win races so easily, and that Norris is clearly being favoured within the team.”
The former F1 boss argued that the mounting internal politics are beginning to affect Piastri’s confidence, suggesting that the young Australian may find it increasingly difficult to keep his cool under pressure. Meanwhile, Norris has continued to perform strongly, taking the championship lead after his victory in Mexico.
With only one point separating the McLaren drivers and four races to go, Ecclestone’s comments add an extra layer of intrigue to a championship that remains wide open.
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Verstappen’s “special” quality
Despite McLaren’s dominance, Ecclestone believes that Max Verstappen is still the most likely driver to become World Champion.
“I think Max will win and do it again,” he declared. “He has that special something, that extraordinary quality.”
Verstappen currently trails Norris by 36 points, but Ecclestone insists that the Dutchman’s raw talent and racing instinct will enable him to catch up.
“The next race is in Brazil. The weather is changeable there, with rain too. Verstappen will do well there,” he said, pointing to Verstappen’s history of excelling in unpredictable conditions.
Ecclestone described Verstappen as “the best racer, not a politician, but a real racing driver”, emphasising his view that it is Verstappen’s straightforward and aggressive style that sets him apart from the other drivers. Although he acknowledged that McLaren’s drivers are “good” and their car is “super”, he believes that Verstappen’s natural talent will ultimately prove decisive.
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Eccelestone criticised Ferrari and Hamilton
In his usual manner, Ecclestone held nothing back when discussing Ferrari’s difficulties and Lewis Hamilton’s inaugural season with the Italian team. He suggested that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, which began amid high expectations, has failed to deliver.
“Everything is slipping through his fingers there,” he said. “He wanted to become world champion and is now surprised that he can’t.”
Ecclestone also described Hamilton as “one of the best of the last ten years, but not the best”, and implied that his relationship with Ferrari is more commercial than competitive.
“It’s a financial marketing project,” he stated. “I believe that in the future he will achieve more in the fashion industry.”
This criticism reflects Ecclestone’s long-standing scepticism towards what he perceives as the over-commercialisation of modern Formula 1. In his view, Hamilton’s brand-focused approach contrasts sharply with that of drivers like Verstappen, whom he considers to be purists devoted solely to the craft of racing.
Ferrari’s leadership problem
Ecclestone also offered a harsh assessment of Ferrari’s management, claiming that the team lacks the strong leadership that defined its glory days.
“The problem is: Ferrari needs a dictator at the top to be successful,” he said.
“They don’t speak Italian there; they speak Ferrari. Everyone in Italy has a say and interferes, deciding what’s right and what’s wrong.”
He argued that the Scuderia’s structure has become too democratic and fragmented to sustain success at the highest level. He suggested that team principal Frédéric Vasseur is “too weak” and “not a dictator”, implying that Ferrari’s internal politics prevent the team from maintaining focus and discipline. Ecclestone drew unfavourable comparisons between Ferrari’s current state and eras when strong figures like Jean Todt or Luca di Montezemolo enforced clear direction and authority.
A familiar voice in the paddock
Although he is 95 years old and no longer holds any official position in Formula 1, Ecclestone’s words still carry weight. For decades, he shaped the sport’s commercial and political landscape, transforming it from a niche motorsport into a global entertainment powerhouse. His outspoken nature and willingness to challenge modern trends ensure that his opinions continue to spark debate.
While many within Formula 1 may dismiss his comments as outdated or controversial, others acknowledge that his insights, however blunt, often contain a kernel of truth. His latest remarks on McLaren, Verstappen, Ferrari and Hamilton once again touch on the tension between sport and spectacle that defines Formula 1 today.
Bottom line
As the 2026 season approaches its final rounds, the championship remains delicately poised: Lando Norris is in the lead, with Piastri close behind and Verstappen lurking within striking distance. Ferrari and Hamilton are under increasing pressure to justify their partnership, and there are ongoing questions about how team politics and commercial interests influence results on the track.
Regardless of whether Ecclestone’s predictions prove correct, his voice adds another dimension to an already compelling title fight. His criticism of McLaren’s internal dynamics, his faith in Verstappen’s resilience and his scepticism towards Ferrari’s management reflect the concerns of someone who has experienced every aspect of the sport.
Formula 1 continues to evolve, but, as Ecclestone’s latest interview shows, the debate over what truly drives success — talent, politics or marketing, remains as fierce as ever.
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Lewis Hamilton now has the worst ever record for a new driver joining the Ferrari team in 75 years of history. His much vaunted arrival in Maranello has gone incredibly sour as the former Mercedes six times world champion is running out of road.
The British driver’s racing statistics are plummeting as the world’s most winning F1 driver is suffering an end of career crisis. With just two Grand Prix wins in the last four seasons – one of those gifted to him by his team mate’s disqualification has seen Hamilton’s all time win to race start ratio collapse.
In his last 88 starts Lewis has just the two wins and so his career stats have collapsed from a nigh on a record 35% win rate to just 27.93% behind both Michael Schumacher (29.55%) and his arch rival Max Verstappen (29.69%) For the record Jim Clarke remains top of this list with a win ratio of 34.25%, although his 73 Grand Prix career was cut short by a tragic early death.
Worst record as a Ferrari driver
Hamilton now holds the worst ever record for a new Ferrari driver in terms of races before he claims his first podium for the Scuderia. The previous record of eighteen was held by ‘also ran; driver Diddier Pireoni now Hamilton is the latest Ferrari driver to sit in the shadows.
Meanwhile, without the advantage he had in the SF-25, Charles Leclerc has been making th best of a bad job in 2025. He has seven podiums after his triumph in Mexico and leads his champion team mate by 210-146. The Monegasque driver is 15-5 ahead in Grand Prix qualifying and has finished a whopping 17 times ahead of his most decorated team mate.
Yet Hamilton in his previous three years since losing out on a record eight F1 drivers’ championship has been a shadow of his former self, with George Russell beating him year in and out. Russel had one more win (although Lewis was gifted one) than Hamilton in their three years together at Mercedes, but in their final season together the statistics were crushing for Lewis…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
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