Formula 1: Hamilton could quit McLaren says Ecclestone FORMULA 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone feels Lewis Hamilton may be on his way out of McLaren at the end of this season if he and the team fail to win the title. Hamilton has endured three barren seasons since becoming champion in 2008, and crucially he now heads into the final year of a multi-million pound contract with the Woking-based team. Ahead of the forthcoming campaign, the early suggestion from four days of testing so far in the new McLaren is that the car will be able to fight with Red Bull and reigning F1 king Sebastian Vettel. Anything other than competing in a title-contending car and Ecclestone wonders whether Hamilton will opt to remain at McLaren, or indeed if the team itself will want to stay in partnership with him. With seats potentially available at Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes next year, Hamilton seemingly has options available should another lean season ensue. Asked initially if he could see the 27-year-old ending his career with McLaren, Ecclestone said: "I doubt that. I think if he doesn't perform this year he'll be looking maybe to move on, and the team may also be looking for him to move on. Hamilton is, at least, in a more positive frame of mind in contrast to the end of last year, when on-and-off-track issues clouded his state of mind and hindered his performances, according to Ecclestone. The 81-year-old, though, has again cast doubt on the people behind Hamilton in XIX Entertainment, who earlier this month employed the services of Didier Coton, who once managed Mika Hakkinen, to guide the Briton. "I spoke to him [Hamilton] the other day and I think he's a bit more focused," said Ecclestone. But I don't agree with the people he's got surrounding him and so-called managing him. I think he doesn't need that sort of management. Asked who he thought Hamilton did need, Ecclestone added: "Someone with their feet on the ground. It's a people's job. They don't have to know about technical issues, someone who if you've a problem you can talk to the guy. His dad [Anthony] was good, wasn't he? His dad was the right person. With the start to the new season just over three weeks away, Ecclestone is also hoping for a far closer affair than occurred last year. Although a fan and a friend of Vettel, Ecclestone felt the 24-year-old's runaway success and clinching of the title with four grands prix remaining was not good for the show. Despite believing Vettel will make it three in a row, Ecclestone said: "We always say this, but I hope the last race is going to be the one where the championship is won. We don't want what happened last year, which was not too good. We perhaps need a change [of champion]. The only person that would say no to that would be Sebastian, but I think everybody else would agree with it.