Another driver suspects Charles Leclerc may be correct in predicting Red Bull will maintain their superiority until 2026.
The Ferrari driver told media including RaceFans at Zandvoort yesterday he doubts the reigning champions will be beaten until Formula 1 introduces its next new set of technical regulations in three years’ time.
Lewis Hamilton backed Leclerc’s assessment, pointing out Red Bull’s substantial points lead means they can afford to begin work on the new car for 2024 earlier than their rivals can.
“The fact is, they are ahead and most likely have started developing not next year’s car already months before everybody else as they’re 100, 200 points ahead in the championship. So it’s very possible that Charles could be right.”
Mercedes lie second in the championship after 12 rounds but have less than half Red Bull’s tally of 503 points. “We’re working on a steep gradient trying to develop and get ourselves to close the gap,” Hamilton said. “Whether or not we can next year will be proved within that. I hope we can.”
But Red Bull are not taking it for granted the margin of superiority will not be overwhelmed before new technical rules are introduced. Sergio Perez pointed out McLaren introduced an upgrade this year which vaulted them into contention for podium finishes having previously struggled to escape Q1.
Perez said it is “quite early to say” Red Bull will remain on top until 2026. ”When you see the sort of jumps up teams like McLaren can do from where they were in the beginning of the season to where they are now, it only takes another team to make such an improvement.
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“So I wouldn’t think that and we are not thinking like that. We are really working hard, we are really trying to improve race by race on all of the different areas.”
McLaren’s Lando Norris also drew encouragement from the progress his team has made this year and said he doesn’t want to believe Red Bull can’t be caught over the next two seasons.
“I think from where we were in the season, the expectation of the step we made to where we were I think was pretty huge,” he said. “For where are [now], it’s pretty huge in such a short period of time.
“So from what I’ve seen, from what we’ve been able to do over the last season, then I don’t want to say no. I think it should be possible.
“But that’s life. They’re doing a good job and everyone else is not doing a good enough job. That’s the way it is.”
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