The seven-time world champion has not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in May and has fallen 32 points ൲behind main titl🥃e rival Max Verstappen, who arrives into this weekend’s British Grand Prix off the back of a hat-trick of victories.

In an interview with in the build-up to this weekend’s ra💟ce at Silverstone, former F1 supremo Ecclestone questioned Hamilton’s fighting spirit following his run of su🐼ccessive defeats to Red Bull’s Verstappen.

“I have sp🧔oken to lots of people about this and𝔉 perhaps Lewis is not quite the fighter that he was,” Ecclestone said. “There are lots of occasions this year where he could have done better and he hasn’t.

“He hasn’t had any competition, the equipment has always been super, and he hasn’t really had to make the effort. But now maybeဣ he is thinking that he better take it a bit easier🐠.

“At the beginning of the year I thought he would look to win the championship and then retire. But it appears not, even though I wouldn’t rely too much on contracts. He can escape from thℱat.

“He🏅 probಞably had a look at the clothing range and music but realised that it is not as easy to make money there as it is in Formula 1.”

Hamilton was asked to respond to Ecclestone’s remarks when he faced the media during the FIA pr𒅌ess conferences on Thursday at Sil♋verstone.

“I 𝓀ac𝔉tually wasn’t aware of it until I arrived this weekend,” Hamilton explained.

“Honestly, this has been such an interesting week. We had the football which was exciting for on😼e moment, and then obviously quite difficult afterwards, although the positive support𓆏 subsequently has been amazing. And then with the [Hamilton] Commission, I’ve just been focused on that.

“No𒈔 one is sidetracking me. I’m definitely not the driver I was when I started, I think I’m bett✃er and I know myself way more than I ever did.”