15/12/2016
NEWS STORY
Fearing another season of Mercedes domination, Bernie Ecclestone admits he would like to see Max Verstappen partner Lewis Hamilton.
While we are told that the new regulations for 2017 will lead to a shake-up of the order, faster lap times, keep drivers on their toes physically and mentally and generally be the best thing to happen to F1 since the last 'best thing' introduced in order to spice up the sport, Bernie Ecclestone isn't so sure.
Though some believe the changes, coupled with further improvements from Tag-Heuer, will see Red Bull close on its German rivals, the sport's supremo fears another year of Mercedes blitzkrieging the opposition.
Furthermore, in the absence of a strong teammate, Lewis Hamilton will be similarly unstoppable.
As ever, Baldrick Ecclestone has a cunning plan.
"I don't think anybody is going to beat Lewis," he told Sky Sports, fearing that this would further impact TV viewing figures and race attendance. "I think nobody would want to buy tickets and go to watch a race or watch on television Lewis disappearing from us when the lights go off and probably lapping the field a couple of times.
"It would be bad for everybody and bad for Lewis as well," he continued, "because I think he wants to win fair and wants to beat somebody.
"The problem is a simple one," he admitted, "the Mercedes team, engine, everything, is perfect and they've got the best driver in the world.
While Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso have both been suggested as potential teammate for Hamilton, Ecclestone is under no illusions.
"There is no good encouraging people because both those guys are under contract," he said.
"Verstappen has been super," he adds. "Maybe Max in that car could hurry Lewis along a little bit.
"I hope I'm completely wrong in my assessment of the championship with Lewis," he admits. "I hope I am wrong and whoever goes and sits in the same team can beat him or hurry him up that he makes mistakes. But my personal opinion is that it's not going to happen."
Well, Verstappen at Mercedes certainly isn't going to happen.