Hamilton in awe of Red Bull's 'most dominant' F1 car ever

Lewis Hamilton has admitted to being blown away by the scale of the advantage that Red Bull has over the competition in the 2023 Formula 1 season.

During the recent Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton got a first-hand glimpse of this advantage when Max Verstappen overtook him with ease during his recovery drive from 15th on the grid.

Verstappen's impressive climb from 15th to second behind his teammate, Sergio Perez, showcased Red Bull's superiority and has led to speculations that the Milton Keynes-based team is set for a truly dominant season.

Hamilton, who finished fifth in Jeddah, acknowledged that he has never seen a car as fast as the RB19.

He remarked that the gap Red Bull had over the competition was much greater than anything he and Mercedes had enjoyed during their dominant phases in the early turbo hybrid years.

"I've definitely never seen a car so fast. I think it's the fastest car I've seen, especially compared to the rest," said Hamilton. "When we were fast, we weren't that fast."

Hamilton added that Verstappen's advantage was so great on the straight that he knew, when the Dutchman was behind him, there was no point in even trying to defend his position.

"I didn't even bother to block because it was just a massive speed difference," he said.

This scenario could be worrying for Formula 1's bosses in terms of keeping fans interested if they know that only one team can win.

Hamilton said he understood fans' concerns, saying, "Of course, I think everyone wants to see everyone close, but it is the way it is. It's not my fault."

Red Bull's advantage lies not only in its cornering ability but also in its speed on the straight, especially when its DRS is open.

This advantage was critical in allowing Verstappen to overtake Hamilton and scythe his way through the field during his impressive recovery drive.