Michael Schumacher’s comeback would have been successful at the wheel of a top car, according to Bernie Ecclestone.
"If he had had a Red Bull or a Ferrari, Michael would have won again," the F1 chief executive told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.
"He should have demanded more guarantees, because it was his (Mercedes) car (to blame) and now his reputation has been tainted," added Ecclestone.
In a new interview with Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, Schumacher - who turns 44 on Thursday - didn’t want to say he would have definitely won races in a Red Bull.
The seven time world champion said: "I would agree that if I was in a car like that, I would be running with those (top) guys.
"Whether I would win races in the current Red Bull or McLaren is a good question," said Schumacher, who won a record 91 races in his ultra-successful first career.
"You don’t just get in a car and win immediately. Could I go as fast in a custom Vettel car as I could in a custom Schumacher car? Probably not," he admitted.