Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc & Lewis Hamilton Join Forces to Give Exactly Same Opinion on Max Verstappen’s Dominance

Whether it be through the slow, twisty layout of the Hungaroring or the fast, flowing layout of the Red Bull Ring, there’s one thing everyone has realized for sure—Red Bull’s RB19 is an absolute beast this season. The car’s superiority, coupled with the talent of Max Verstappen, has created a formidable duo that’s dominating Formula 1 and is showing no signs of slowing down. For all we know, this dominance might continue for a while, and that’s precisely what Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz are wary of.

When Mercedes dropped the ball after the 2022 regulation changes, Verstappen and Red Bull picked up on the momentum they gained in 2021 and haven’t looked back since. Apart from a few challenges in 2022 that came in the form of Leclerc’s Ferrari, the Milton-Keynes team is on another level. The unlikely trio of Hamilton, Leclerc, and Sainz have come together to express their concerns about F1’s future.

Lewis Hamilton finds allies in Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz

Recently Hamilton said, “We shouldn’t have a chance to dominate for a large number of years. The battle for top positions should be closer. Unfortunately, however, Red Bull could seriously dominate in the next three seasons as well.” As unnatural as this sounds—considering he and Mercedes dominated the sport for seven years—the Ferrari drivers (who haven’t been on the winning side of domination in their careers) feel the same about Verstappen’s reign over F1.

As F1 returns after the summer break to the Dutch GP, Verstappen is bidding to extend his race-winning streak to a record-equalling nine races. With this being his home race, he’ll be intent on getting that win. During media day in Zandvoort, Charles Leclerc discussed Red Bull’s advantage, saying, “They have a really big margin, and it’s going to be very difficult to catch them before the change of regulations.”

2026 is set to change everything with its new engine regulations, incorporating more electrical energy. Considering that’s still three years away, Hamilton said, “We don’t have a rule change coming up, so I’m going to hope [a continued Red Bull dominance] is not the case.” The seven-time champion continued, “They are 100-200 points ahead in the championship, so it is very, very possible that Charles [Leclerc] could be right.” While Sainz was just as concerned about Verstappen’s dominance, he also appreciated Red Bull for being as superior as it is.

As quoted by Autosport, Sainz said, “If my team had done what Red Bull has done, and I am doing the job that Max is doing, I wouldn’t like Formula 1 to change anything because I think they deserve to be in the position they’re in.” As much as he thinks the domination could last another few years, he believes Red Bull won’t have a perfect record in 2023.

Carlos Sainz is banking on Max Verstappen and Red Bull’s errors

Red Bull has won every race of the season so far. Hence, it’s difficult to imagine any other team on the top step of the podium, especially for it to happen due to an error by Red Bull. The Milton-Keynes team has barely put a foot wrong in 2023, but most periods of domination ultimately do come to an end, even if it’s just for a short time. Carlos Sainz is placing his bets on that happening sooner rather than later.

“I don’t fully believe Max is going to win every weekend. Obviously, I know what my chances are. But there’s still a probability that Ferrari can win a race this season and that I can be there to win it,” said the Spaniard to Autosport. “I think no one’s perfect. Hopefully, at some point, we’re going to see Red Bull make some mistakes. And I go into every weekend thinking I need to be there to grab it. That’s my mentality. As a driver, especially in these kinds of years, you live a bit on that motivation.”

Read More: Lewis Hamilton Spits Brutal Facts to Shut Down Max Verstappen’s “Unfair” Retaliation

Could Carlos Sainz be the first driver to break Red Bull’s streak? Or could it be Lewis Hamilton, as Helmut Marko suggested?

WATCH THIS STORY | Lewis Hamilton remains unwavering in his determination to halt Max Verstappen’s dominance, despite enduring significant neglect from the FIA