Feb.27 (GMM) As reports emerge on Wednesday that Ron Dennis' position at McLaren could be in doubt, F1 chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has admitted that the espionage affair "damaged" the veteran team boss.



"He got all the stick, didn't he," Ecclestone, 77, told the Mirror. "That's how it is."



Ecclestone thinks Dennis could have limited his personal damage, which reportedly could result in him being replaced for 2008 by deputy Martin Whitmarsh, by apologising earlier.



"If he didn't know what was going on, perhaps he should have known. And he should have apologised immediately. If he did know what was going on, he should have apologised immediately, too," Bernie said.



Ecclestone also echoes the growing view that McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton's F1 honeymoon is now over.



"Last year, he could afford to be a little more relaxed. Now he's got a lot of pressure to win. He's the number one in the team for sure and people expect him to win.



"Having the world champion there last year took some of the heat off him. He must have learned from him as well," the Briton added.