Source: Ferrari Multimedia

F1 News

Ecclestone: There was more chaos than structure

Ecclestone: "There was more chaos than structure"

02-12-2018 10:10
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Jake Williams-Smith

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has had his say on the 2018 title race between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel. Hamilton took a fifth world championship crown in a season in which the former F1 boss believes Vettel should have been victorious in.

For much of the season, the title battle swung back and forth between its two protagonists with the advantage in terms of car performance nicely poised between Ferrari and Mercedes depending on circuit characteristics.

Ecclestone however lays the blame at Ferrari's feet for not winning the drivers' or constructors' championship, claiming that the iconic team was not fully in support of their number one driver.

Speaking to German publication AutoBild, Ecclestone highlighted the loss of Ferrari boss Sergio Marchionne as a turning point in the title race which Ferrari never fully recovered from.

“Lewis Hamilton is a deserved 2018 F1 champion and Vettel an undeserved 2nd in the championship.

“Lewis was outstanding this year but he also had the full support of the team. You can‘t say that for Sebastian. After Marchionne‘s death, a strong hand was missing and there was more chaos than structure.

“From the outside, you had the impression that Ferrari did more for Kimi than for Sebastian. Sebastian is a victim not the culprit.

"If Vettel had the same support like Lewis, Vettel would have also become champion this year. A team needs to strengthen their star driver not weaken him."