Back in 2021, all F1 fans could talk about was the rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton. Red Bull versus Mercedes. Verstappen and Hamilton battling it out for the championship in every single race. Given the way it went down to the wire, the tussle between the protagonists got even more special. Despite all the controversial decisions that tainted the joy, it was one of the best seasons in the sport’s history. But something died that night, and it wasn’t just Hamilton’s hopes of winning a 5th consecutive championship.

2022 brought an overhaul of new regulations—the most drastic F1 has seen. And with the new regulations came new car designs. While Red Bull designed a beast, Mercedes couldn’t quite do the same. So yes, Hamilton’s hopes of winning his 8th title in 2021 waned away that night, but with it, the rivalry between Red Bull and Mercedes—between Max and Lewis— fizzled out a little too.

Is Max Verstappen missing the challenge from Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?

Max Verstappen is known to make spectators and drivers alike sweat with his aggressive driving style and opportunistic overtakes. Although,  we haven’t seen much of these aspects this year since he’s usually starting at the front of the grid. Once he starts, he doesn’t look back. While he makes people sweat on track, he loves doing it off track too. In a recent appearance on The Fast And The Curious Podcast, he made one of the co-hosts, Christian Hewgill, sweat within the first few seconds of going live.

The first thing the Dutchman said after joining the call was, “I don’t like your jacket in the background,” referring to Hewgill’s Mercedes jacket in the frame. Hewgill looked like he was questioning his life choices, asking Max to make an appearance on his podcast. He quickly started justifying his merchandise collection—including a Red Bull cap signed by Verstappen—saying that “it’s an equal opportunity display.”

Hewgill quickly realized Max was playing with him and taking a jab at his former rivals, Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. But Max’s banter did not stop there. Being the comedian he is, he had to say something witty and told Hewgill, “One is a bit more beautiful than the other[s],” referring to the Red Bull merchandise.

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Red Bull has been in a league of its own these past two seasons, with no other team fighting them for the championship. But given that he is a competitor at heart, is Super Max missing the challenge that Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes proved to be in 2021?

Will the Red Bull-Mercedes rivalry be reignited this season?

When the season started, this would’ve sounded absurd. Even now, after Mercedes’ double podium at the Spanish GP, it doesn’t seem possible. Lewis Hamilton thinks so too. But according to George Russell, Mercedes has the best team when it comes to developing its car. Seeing how big a step it made in Barcelona—and comparing its performance to the start of the season—Russell might not be entirely off. 

Off the back of his 40th win in F1—and Red Bull’s 99th—Verstappen will aim to give Red Bull its 100th win at the Canadian GP next week. Will Mercedes be able to challenge Red Bull in Montreal? Despite Mercedes’ upgrades, Christian Horner believes Red Bull has nothing to worry about. Like most of us, he seems to think that no one can challenge Red Bull, at least in 2023. Come 2024, things might change, and Mercedes might just start challenging Red Bull again

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Will Mercedes make more significant steps in 2023 to catch up to Red Bull, or will it have to wait until 2024 to challenge it again?