Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has once more drawn attention to the disparities in Formula 1.
After eight races, the 2023 season appears to have reached a conclusion.
Red Bull lead the constructors’ championship by 154 points and have totally dominated claiming eight race victories from a possible eight.
Max Verstappen has won six of these races and looks to be on course to secure a third consecutive world title.
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Red Bull man Sergio Perez has won the other two (Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan) but has experienced a dip in form of late.
As a competitive sport, Formula 1 has often been criticised due to the lack of an equal playing field.
One driver who has reaped the benefits of the system is Hamilton who from 2014-2020 won six consecutive world titles.
Of late the Englishmen has changed his stance and has taken to Sky Sports to express his concerns.
“I think the FIA should probably put a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year’s car.”
Hamilton was referring to the fact that now Red Bull are so far ahead in the constructors’ championship, they have more time to turn their attention to next year.
“So August 1, that’s when everybody can start so then no one can get an advantage on the next year, because that sucks. It would make more sense. They should,” Hamilton claimed.
Unsurprisingly Verstappen has responded by drawing attention to Hamilton’s reign of dominance.
“We weren’t talking about that when he was winning his Championships, right?
“So I don’t think we should now. That’s how Formula One works. When you have a competitive car it’s great, but at one point you also have to look ahead to the next year,” Verstappen stated.
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However, such comments from the Red Bull man are not backed by the team principal Christian Horner, who back in 2015 had his say on the matter.
“The FIA, within the rules, have an equalisation mechanism and that needs to be looked at. Take nothing away from Mercedes, they have done a super job.
“They have a good car, a fantastic engine and two very good drivers. The problem is that the gap is so big that you end up with three-tier racing and that is not healthy for Formula One,” Horner stated.