Lewis Hamilton has been told by Bernie Ecclestone to ‘rip up’ his Ferrari contract ahead of the Brit’s move.

The former F1 head honcho isn’t convinced Hamilton is making the right decision.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ecclestone said: “I don’t think it will be easy for Lewis. Especially in that team.

“They will back Charles Leclerc. He’s quick and has grown up there. They won’t dump him for anyone.”

He added: “However, from Lewis’ point of view, it may not have been a mistake to join Ferrari. He couldn’t exist any longer at Mercedes.

“Either he’s given up with them or they have given up on him. They wouldn’t do much to keep him, so he is better off going.”

“He would have to walk away from a lot financially. It is a big deal he has got, though I suspect the bonus clauses written into his contract are there to make him feel good rather than reality.

“For John Elkann, the guy who runs it, it was a big ego thing. He thought he had captured the best guy the world had ever seen.

“When he signed him there was nothing to indicate he was wrong in that assessment. Whether he is still happy with that is another story. Only time will tell.”

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