Reigning World Champion Max Verstappen has responded to comments made by Lewis Hamilton following the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, where the Mercedes driver was left shocked by Red Bull’s straight-line speed.
Red Bull’s 2023 challenger – the RB19 – is certainly an unbelievable piece of engineering, with the Austrians having claimed victory at every race so far this season.
Following the first three rounds of the 2023 F1 season, Verstappen leads the Drivers’ Championship by 15 points, whilst Red Bull lead the Constructors’ Championship by 58 points.
The Milton Keynes-based team have certainly made a remarkable start to their title defence, with nobody looking like beating the Austrians.
Want to work in Formula 1? Browse the latest F1 job vacancies
It’s their straight-line speed, though, which has caught the paddock by surprise this season, with the RB19 having been labelled by Hamilton as “the fastest car” he’s ever seen in F1.
Hamilton’s comments came after the second round of the season, where he was overtaken with ease by Verstappen.
“I’ve definitely never seen a car so fast. When we were fast we weren’t that fast,” Hamilton told reporters after the Saudi Arabian GP.
“That’s the fastest car, I think, I’ve ever seen, especially compared to the rest, I don’t know why or how but he [Verstappen] came past me with serious speed. I didn’t even bother to block because there was a massive speed difference.”
Hamilton was overtaken with ease by Verstappen again at the recent Australian Grand Prix, where the Mercedes driver again had absolutely no response to the superior Red Bull.
READ: Ferrari boss hits out at FIA stewards with Fernando Alonso accusation
There is absolutely no doubting that Red Bull’s 2023 car will go down as one of the greatest in the sport’s history, given the dominance it’s already shown thanks to Verstappen and Sergio Perez; however, the double World Champion doesn’t believe the car is the “fastest ever”, with Mercedes having still been more dominant.
“I think if you look at the statistics, those statements are not correct,” Verstappen said.
“But we also have a very good car. There is of course nothing wrong with that. Yet we are not as dominant as Mercedes has shown in some years.”