Formula 1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has claimed that Lewis Hamilton could leave McLaren if the team struggle this season.

Ecclestone believes that McLaren may want a change if the team do not achieve success in the new campaign and Hamilton could also want to leave the company he has been with since he was 13.

The 81-year-old said: "I think if he doesn't perform this year he'd be looking maybe to move on and the team may be also looking for him to move on."

The chief executive also revealed that he feels Hamilton is not being helped by his current management company, XIX Entertainment.

"I think he's got a bit more focused. 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," Ecclestone added.

Hamilton recently entered the final year of his contract with McLaren.