Two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen has questioned whether Red Bull’s current dominance is a “problem” for the sport.
Red Bull and Max Verstappen have received criticism for making F1 “boring”, with Lewis Hamilton having called for the FIA to intervene.
The Milton Keynes-based team have been unstoppable since the new aerodynamic regulations were introduced last season, to the extent where they’ve won 29 of the 34 races completed in the new era.
25 of those 29 wins have been claimed by the reigning World Champion, who has won 10 races alone in 2023.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Verstappen is currently on a run of eight wins in a row and leads the Drivers’ Championship by 125 points, meaning he’s on the verge of a third consecutive title.
Due to Red Bull’s dominance, the side have been able to switch their focus to 2024 early, something Hamilton doesn’t think should the allowed.
The seven-time World Champion believes the FIA should introduce a set date as to when focus can be switched to the following season, to stop teams gaining an advantage by starting future development early.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has also criticised Red Bull, with him noting that the Silver Arrows at least had two cars fighting during their dominant era.
Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur though, has defended Red Bull and believes Verstappen’s superiority is not “hurting” F1.
Hakkinen shares a similar view to Vasseur and has picked out chief technical officer Adrian Newey as part of the reason why they’re so strong, with the engineer having been behind the RB19 design.
“I know Adrian Newey well, I won my two World Championship titles with his cars,” Hakkinen told La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy.
READ: Mercedes reveal George Russell stance amid Lewis Hamilton contract uncertainty
“Every time there are technical changes he comes up with a winning design, he finds solutions around the new rules.
“After 2022 it wasn’t hard to predict that Red Bull would repeat itself, but when I saw the first tests in Bahrain I knew they would be super fast.
“Is it a problem? No, it’s racing and someone has to win. I don’t know if it depends more on the car or the driver, to divide the merits of such a feat is difficult. And if I were in Max’s position I would be delighted.”