Former Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone has given Ferrari a two-man shortlist to replace seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, who he insisted must “stop now”.
The 40-year-old has endured a torrid time at the Scuderia so far, failing to make the podium at all in the first half of the season.
Frustrations came to a head on Saturday after another disastrous qualifying that led him to start the grid 12th, where he ultimately finished at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday.
"It's me every time. I'm useless, absolutely useless,” the former Mercedes driver astonishingly claimed.
The seven-time champion looked to the floor claiming he is 'useless' after another disappointing qualifying session | Sky Sports"The team have no problem. You've seen the car's on pole. So they probably need to change driver.”
Ecclestone, who controlled the commercial rights of Formula One until 2017, agreed with Hamilton and insisted the English racer should “stop now”.
“Lewis is very talented, was, and probably still is,” he said. “But like a lot of leading sports personalities, when they reach the top, there is only one way to go, and it’s not a good direction. It’s only down.
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Bernie Eccleston suggested two racers that would be 'sensible' for Ferrari to replace Lewis Hamilton with
|Sky Sports
“They get tired. Lewis is tired. He’s been doing what he is doing forever. He needs a rest from it for good, a total reset to do something completely different.
“He may not think it, but he will soon get used to doing other stuff away from motor racing in retirement. I think he should have done it a while ago.
“The guy is not a cheat. But he would be cheating himself if he goes on. He should stop now.”
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The 94-year-old then provided a two-man shortlist for Ferrari to replace Hamilton with, should they decide to part ways.
“If I could steal him, I’d take Isack Hadjar from Racing Bulls. He has done super well in his first year and is a great guy,” he suggested.
“I also rate our friend from Brazil [Gabriel Bortoleto]. He is talented. Both of them are sensible, too.”
Hadjar is in his first year at Formula One and is on a £800,000-a-year contract at Racing Bulls.
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Isack Hadjar has impressed during his debut Formula One season
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The 20-year-old currently sits above team-mate Liam Lawson and Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda in the Drivers’ Championship, and is the favourite to replace the latter at the end of the season.
Bortoleto, also 20, is at Sauber and is also in his first year at Formula One, sitting on a healthy contract worth £1.5million.
The Brazilian was recently praised by Sauber team principal Jonathan Wheatley for having a “fantastic work ethic” amid his impressive connection with team-mate Nico Hulkenberg.
"I have to say that it's the closest, most collaborative driver pairing I think I can even remember in all my time in Formula 1," Wheatley said.
"Gabriel has a fantastic work ethic. He has a capacity for taking on new information. He's proving every way to be the future star that we expected him to be. And Nico is part of that journey with him.”
Hamilton remains insistent he will not quit, although he admitted there will be 'tears' during the summer break, as he searches for answers as to his difficult start to life in red.