Hamilton calls for limits to stop Red Bull... and Verstappen laughs back

Lewis Hamilton can't seem to the seven years in which Mercedes were unchallenged on the track.

This came, largely, thanks to the advantage they took in 2014 with hybrid engines, through a technical regulation tailored to their needs.

Mercedes' ability to get ahead of the curve gave them a cushion with which they dominated the drivers' and constructors' championships until 2020.

That brought six titles for the Briton and one, in 2016, for Nico Rosberg, also with Mercedes.

But now, seeing that Red Bull are on a very similar path, Hamilton is calling for measures to restrict their technical superiority.

The seven-time champion has proposed to the FIA that it designate a date for all teams on which the development of the next season's car can begin.

Without context it is easy to portray Hamilton's words as sour grapes, however he is asking that all teams have exactly the same time to work on next year's car.

With Red Bull having already all but sewn up both championships for 2023, Hamilton fears that they are now able to turn their attention to the 2024 car way earlier than everyone else who still has competitive goals this term.

Naturally, this would give them the edge on the rest of the pack for next year too and thus create a cycle of dominance that is difficult to break.

"Our car is moving in the right direction and it's likely that, slowly but surely, by the end of the year, we'll be able to catch Red Bull," Hamilton told Sky Sports.

"But that's probably because they're already focusing on next year's car.

"They're so far ahead that they don't have to make any changes to the current one any more.

"I think the FIA probably put a time when everyone is allowed to start developing next year's car.

"We could say August 1, and that's where everyone could start so that no one can get an advantage on the next year, because that sucks."

"We never started as early as they did and it needs to change, because that's why you get dominance for so long and you keep allowing it to happen."

Verstappen points out the irony to Hamilton

Max Verstappen's response didn't take long to arrive, and it came in a dismissive tone, with the Dutchman unwilling to take the subject seriously.

"Life is unfair as well, not just in Formula 1," Max told the international press upon hearing of Hamilton's words.

"A lot of things in life are unfair so we just have to deal with it.

"We weren't talking about that when he was winning his championships, right? So I don't think we should now.

"That's how Formula 1 works. When you have a competitive car, it's great. But at one point you also have to look ahead to the year next.

"It's normal of course people behind say these kind of things but they should also not forget when they were winning how it was looking."