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Former F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone believes Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is getting “a bit fed up” with Lewis Hamilton.

Ecclestone, now out of F1 leadership after selling up to Liberty Media six years ago, may not have been at a Grand Prix in two years, but the 91-year-old retains close links to many F1 figureheads after over 40 years in charge of the sport.

With Lewis Hamilton struggling to keep up with new team-mate George Russell at the start of their partnership, over the nine race weekends so far in 2022, Ecclestone reckons that Hamilton could choose to walk away from F1 earlier than his contract ends at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

“Lewis might sell his position to Toto,” Ecclestone told the Daily Mail.

“‘This is how much I am getting, I’ll step down and give me half of what I would get’ – Toto can go and do one of his magic deals, offer someone less money, and keep £20 million.

“Nobody needs to tell Toto this because he has already thought of it. Lewis would probably stop under those circumstances.

“I don’t know what he is doing dressing up in all those funny clothes. Has he a deal to it? Is it to get noticed? Maybe that’s it.”

With Russell having the measure of Hamilton at most of the Grand Prix weekends so far this year, Ecclestone suspects that Hamilton’s heart is no longer in the sport as much as it once was – despite Hamilton’s self-proclaimed hunger.

“I didn’t think [Russell] was that good but he has done an excellent job,” he commented.

“I’m surprised. Or is it a case of Lewis doing a bad job? A bit of both.”

Referring to Wolff’s regular apologies