After six seasons at McLaren, Hamilton left the Woking team at the end of 2012 to join Mercedes in a bombshell move to replace seven-time world champion168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: Michael Schumacher, who retired from F1 for the second and final time. 

Although the move was seen as a huge gamble by many at the time, given McLaren was a front-running team and Mercedes had enjoyed little success since returning to th💦e sport in 2010, it proved to be a masterstroke. 

• Hamilton’s 2022 earnings revealed - it’s $17m less than 2021

Mercedes bosses Ross Brawn and Niki Lauda ultimately sold the move to Hamilton, wh♒o went on to win six F1 ꧃world championships in seven years. 

But according to Ecclestone, the move ♈was in danger of collapsing over a pay dispute, which prompted him to step in and offer to financially support Mercedes. 

"Niki [Lauda] realised what a valuable driver Lewis was, and he found some way of persuading him [Lewis Hamilton)] he should be driving for Mercedes," Ecclestone said on th👍e Disney+ documentary series ‘Lu༺cky!’. 

“If he didn't get paid what he wanted, Leಌwis, he wasn't going to a🙈gree.

"So I said 'well he's somebody t💃hat I think Mercedes needs, I'll pay the difference.' But evܫentually Mercedes paid.”

Ecclestone’s revelation may come as a surprise considering he has appeared to aim several digs at Hamilꦡton in recent years. 

In 2021, Ecclestone claimed Hamilton is no longer the fighter he once was and suggested the 37-year-old Briton was only extend🌌ing his career having “looked at the clothing range and music but realised that it i✨s not as easy to make money there as it is in F1”. 

He later told Hamilton to accept a 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:£20m pay-off and quit F1 following an underwhelming start to the 2022 season, before saying he hopes arch rival 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen goes on to 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:bꦇeat ♒the seven-time world champion’s records.