BELGIUM: Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, recently weighed in on Max Verstappen’s unprecedented run of success in the sport, comparing the Dutch driver’s dominance to a famous line from the movie Austin Powers in Goldmember.
With Verstappen and his Red Bull team commanding the 2023 season, Hamilton acknowledged the ease with which the three-time World Champion seemed to be leading the pack.
Hamilton, who knows the feeling of being an unstoppable force in Formula 1 all too well, has seen his Mercedes team slip from the title fight in the last two seasons, making way for Verstappen’s era to flourish.
The Belgian Grand Prix showcased the Red Bull RB19’s dominance, as Verstappen rose from P6 on the grid, after a penalty for changing his gearbox, to secure his eighth consecutive victory and his tenth win of the 2023 campaign. His teammate, Sergio Perez, trailed by over 22 seconds.
Red Bull’s dominance extends far beyond just one race, as they now boast a record-breaking 13 consecutive Grand Prix wins. Additionally, they remain undefeated in the F1 2023 sprint races, putting them firmly on course for another comfortable title double.
Asked by the media, whether he believes it is too easy for Verstappen out front, Hamilton humorously replied with an Austin Powers reference, saying, “What do you want me to say? I haven’t spoken to him. He is having a smoke and a pancake. You know the film?”
While Hamilton and Mercedes are eager to close the gap and reclaim their position at the top, their performance this season has been overshadowed by Verstappen’s dominance.
With a P2 finish in Australia and Spain being the best Hamilton has achieved so far, the Mercedes team finds themselves competing with McLaren, Aston Martin, and Ferrari for the title of “best of the rest” behind the relentless Verstappen and Red Bull.
Nonetheless, Hamilton remains optimistic about Mercedes’ progress, attributing their gains to a substantial upgrade package introduced in Monaco. The changes, including the removal of Mercedes’ ‘zero pod’ concept, led to notable performance improvements.
Although further upgrades were implemented at Spa, Hamilton did express concerns about the re-emergence of the “porpoising” issue, which plagued the team during the previous season.
Looking ahead, Hamilton has his sights set on returning to the title picture in 2024. He acknowledged the strides made by Mercedes in terms of a better understanding of car positioning, increased consistency, more podium finishes, and improved reliability.
However, Hamilton emphasized the need for more downforce to improve the car’s overall balance.
Currently, Mercedes holds P2 in the Constructors’ Championship, trailing a massive 256 points behind Red Bull as Formula 1 enters its summer break.
With Verstappen’s stranglehold on the sport showing no signs of weakening, Hamilton and his team face a challenging road ahead if they want to reclaim their position as the dominant force in Formula 1.
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