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Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton escalated his feud with rival team Red Bull on Thursday with his comments ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka.
Hamilton, who won four consecutive Formula 1 world titles from 2017-2020, is no stranger to controversy.
He and two-time defending champion Max Verstappen have traded barbs throughout the season. With Hamilton even taking a direct shot at Vestappen just weeks ago.
“In my personal opinion, Valtteri [Bottas], and actually all my teammates, have been stronger than the teammates that Max has had,” Hamilton said. “You know, Jenson [Button], Fernando, George [Russell], Valtteri, Nico [Rosberg]. You know, all these guys have all been very strong, very consistent, and Max is not racing against anyone like that.”
Verstappen and his Red Bull team have dominated the 2023 season. Red Bull drivers won the first 14 races of the season, with Verstappen winning a record 10 in a row at one point.
But fans were stunned when the team struggled mightily at last week’s Singapore Grand Prix. Both Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez qualified outside of the top 10 for the race, which Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz proceeded to win after qualifying on the pole.
Some felt the Red Bull struggles were down to a new technical directive that limited the flexibility of both the front and rear wings of the cars.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has since denied that claim. But Hamilton says that this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix will give a definitive answer to the question of why Red Bull struggled so much in Singapore.
“I would think that if they’re [Red Bull] not 30 seconds ahead, like they have done in the past, then something’s up,” Hamilton said.
What exactly the “something” that Hamilton is eluding to is anyone’s guess. But it sure sounds like he’s insinuating that Red Bull fell afoul of the rules regarding wing flexibility.
Now, prior to the new technical directive, Red Bull would have been well within the rules to have flexible wings on the car (to a limit).
But it wouldn’t be the first time a change in the rules dismantled a team. Just ask Ferrari.