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via Imago

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The intrigue surrounding Red Bull’s dominance continues to grow. Red Bull has continued their formidable performance from the last 2 years in the 23 season. The RB19 has proven to be a dominant force, propelling Max Verstappen to securing 10 out of 12 victories, and has left rival teams scrambling to find a way to dethrone the Milton Keynes operation. Max Verstappen’s consistent victories and the apparent evolution of the team’s DRS effectiveness have sparked discussions within the paddock. The ongoing battle for supremacy took an interesting turn, with Lewis Hamilton‘s suspicions about Red Bull’s DRS advantage finding support from unexpected quarters.

At the heart of the intrigue lies the DRS, a critical tool that allows drivers to momentarily adjust their car’s aerodynamics, enabling them to gain speed and overtake competitors on specific sections of the track. In the midst of this season’s battles, a curious observation by Lewis Hamilton has cast a spotlight on the evolving effectiveness of Red Bull’s DRS. Hamilton after the Hungary GP quali pointed out that Red Bull’s DRS advantage, which had been evident earlier in the season, seemed to have diminished. “They’ve still got the DRS, but they don’t have the DRS advantage all of a sudden that they used to have,” Hamilton remarked. The DRS had been a key weapon for RBR, particularly in straight-line speed.

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In the analysis of the Dutch GP quali session, former Ferrari boss Peter Windsor weighed in suggesting that Verstappen’s advantage with the DRS might not be as significant as previously believed. He states, “Max Verstappen very effective in the Red Bull picked up 9 Km/h now there’s been a lot of talk about Red Bull pick up more speed with the DRS, in other words, the DRS is more effective than any other car on the grid…. but right now Red Bull kind of in the middle of what is very very good just behind Williams you could say and there’s Ferrari picking up exactly the same amount on Carlos Sainz’s car 9km/hr.”

Read more: Lewis Hamilton’s Prophecy Comes True as Max Verstappen Admits to “Tricky” Issues Before Grabbing Astonishing Pole

Logan Sargeant in his Williams gained an impressive +10 km/h using DRS, while both Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz experienced a +9 km/h boost in speed from the start-finish line to the speed trap. The once-noticeable key weapon seemed to be vanishing, hinting at the possibility that developments in other teams’ cars might be narrowing the gap, in turn affecting Max Verstappen’s preference for dominance.

Max Verstappen’s love for dominance

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After a fiercely contested title scrap against Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Verstappen’s journey has evolved into a smoother sailing experience. As the Dutch GP beckons, Verstappen stands on the brink of equalling Sebastian Vettel’s record of 9 consecutive victories, a feat that further solidifies his stronghold. Asked about his preference between competitive challenges and seamless dominance, Verstappen expressed a clear choice. “I have a lot more fun now,” he affirmed.

via Reuters

The unexpected continuation of their dominance has been a pleasant surprise. Verstappen revealed, “This is what I like to do, I like to win. I like to dominate. I like to work with the people I’m working with. It’s very enjoyable and I always want more. People think it gets boring for me when I’m leading but absolutely not, that’s what I wanted to do from a very young age and I always wanted to be there.”

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What do you think with the vanishing DRS will Verstappen also lose his beloved dominance?

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