Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has conceded that the Max Verstappen era has commenced, but he is keen to engage in discussions with Formula 1 officials to explore ways to rein in his rival’s advantage.
After eight consecutive constructors’ titles between 2014 and 2021, Hamilton’s Mercedes team has yielded the spotlight to Red Bull, who now dominate the sport.
Red Bull is poised to secure consecutive titles this year, with Verstappen on the cusp of claiming his third consecutive drivers’ championship.
The 25-year-old Dutchman currently enjoys a commanding lead of 99 points over his nearest competitor, teammate Sergio Perez, after just 10 races.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
Verstappen is in the midst of an impressive six-race winning streak and appears poised to extend his lead further as the mid-season summer break approaches.
In contrast, Hamilton’s last Formula 1 victory came at the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on December 5 of that year.
Mercedes struggled to adapt to the new car regulations introduced last season, putting them in a position of catching up ever since.
During an interview with the BBC’s Chequered Flag podcast, Hamilton, aged 38, acknowledged Red Bull’s deserving success due to their exceptional efforts.
“I had it, and I was really, really fortunate to have it with this team, Michael [Schumacher] had it, Sebastian [Vettel] had it, and now it’s Max’s period,” stated the seasoned champion.
He further emphasised the uncertainty surrounding the duration of Verstappen’s reign and the possibility of Mercedes or Ferrari mounting a challenge in the future.
Hamilton highlighted the importance of close battles and fierce competition, describing those periods as the most fulfilling in the sport.
He expressed his desire for Formula 1 officials to address the issue of Red Bull’s advantage to ensure a more exciting and competitive landscape for the sport’s future.
READ: Max Verstappen’s girlfriend breaks silence on reported break-up
“As a sport, we have to work, we have to have a conversation about how we can set it up to be better for the future so we have tighter races where the pack is closer, and we have close battles between Red Bull and Ferrari and Mercedes, Aston Martin – that would be epic,” Hamilton expressed.
“That’s my dream because that’s when I grew up racing karts, it was wheel to wheel close battling.
“I don’t dream of having a dominant period ever again, for myself, like winning multiple championships in a row, but the hope is that you would be in battle at least.”