Hamilton domination in 2017 could be bad for F1 - Ecclestone

Williams driver Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes protege Pascal Wehrlein have been considered the leading candidates for the drive vacated by retiring world champion Nico Rosberg.

But Ecclestone doubts that anyone who gets the vacant Mercedes seat will be able to challenge Hamilton, and fears this could have a negative impact on the spectacle.

“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,” Ecclestone told Sky Sports News. “And probably lapping the field a couple of times.

"It would be bad for everybody and bad for Lewis as well, because I think he wants to win fair and wants to beat somebody.

“I hope I'm completely wrong in my assessment of the championship with Lewis. I hope I am wrong and whoever goes and sits in the same team can beat him or hurry him up [so] that he makes mistakes. My personal opinion is that it's not going to happen.”

Asked about potential candidates, he said: “I think there’s one or two of them who are capable of performing,”  before adding: “I don't think anybody is going to beat Lewis.”

However, Ecclestone conceded that Red Bull driver Max Verstappen is one man who could challenge Hamilton given equal machinery.

“Verstappen has been super," he added. "When I say nobody [can challenge Hamilton], maybe Max in that car could hurry Lewis along a little bit.

"The problem is a simple one: the Mercedes team, engine, everything, is perfect and they've got the best driver in the world.”

Ecclestone also downplayed a potential conflict of interest caused by Toto Wolff’s involvement in the management of Bottas.

“I don’t think Lewis would care unless it was painfully obvious that they were doing something to help Bottas against him," added the 86-year-old.

"But Toto’s position is he’s got him under contract, and I suppose he’s got a much better chance, Bottas, of getting a drive than somebody that hasn’t got a contract with Toto.”