“I think if he doesn’t perform this year he’ll be looking maybe to move
on, and the team may also be looking for him to move on.”
Ecclestone can at least state Hamilton is in a more positive frame of mind in
contrast to the end of last year when on-and-off-track issues clouded his
state of mind and hindered his performances.
The 81-year-old, though, has again cast doubt on the people behind Hamilton in
XIX Entertainment, who earlier this month employed the services of Didier
Coton, who once managed Mika Hakkinen, to guide the Briton.
“I spoke to him (Hamilton) the other day and I think he’s a bit more
focused,” said Ecclestone.
“But I don’t agree with the people he’s got surrounding him and so-called
managing him. I think he doesn’t need that sort of management.”
Asked of Ecclestone as to whom Hamilton did need, he added: “Someone with
their feet on the ground.
“It’s a people’s job. They don’t have to know about technical issues,
someone who if you’ve a problem you can talk to the guy.
“His dad (Anthony) was good, wasn’t he? His dad was the right person.”
As for Coton, Ecclestone said: “Let’s see. I hope so (that he is right).”
With the start to the new season just over three weeks away, Ecclestone is
also hoping for a far closer affair than occurred last year.
Although a fan and a friend of Vettel, Ecclestone felt the 24-year-old’s
runaway success and clinching of the title with four grands prix remaining
was not good for the show.
Despite believing Vettel will make it three in a row, Ecclestone said: “We
always say this, but I hope the last race is going to be the one where the
championship is won.
“We don’t want what happened last year, which was not too good.
“We perhaps need a change (of champion). The only person that would say
no to that would be Sebastian, but I think everybody else would agree with
it.
“But it wasn’t good. I am surprised we survived with as much TV as we got
right at the end.
“I often wonder whether people watch because of the championship or watch
because of the particular race.
“But now we’ve six world champions, and I think there are probably going
to be four very competitive teams, so we should have a very good year.”
One of the main items on the agenda for Ecclestone this year is to negotiate
with the teams a new Concorde Agreement, the commercial contract that binds
the sport.
The teams, however, have already been making noises about wanting a larger
share of the spoils than the 50% they share between them, with the remainder
going to the sport’s owners CVC and Ecclestone.
“I think they’re right,” said Ecclestone.
“You can’t blame them. If they don’t ask they are not going to get are
they? So I’d be happy to discuss it.”
Whether they will get more, however, is another matter because asked if they
would get more, he replied: “No, I’m saying I think they are right.
That’s all.
“I was looking at the figures with a team manager and the teams got three
times as much in 2011 as they did in 2007.”
So as to their chances, he said: “Slim to none!”