Verstappen Haunted by Christian Horner's Comment As Hamilton Urges F1 for Change

• Red Bull's team principal Christian Horner has inadvertently dismantled Max Verstappen's argument against Lewis Hamilton's latest plea
• Hamilton suggested there should be a restriction on when teams can start working on their cars for the following season
• Max Verstappen had previously responded to the British driver’s plea to the FIA

Red Bull are flying this season, with Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez taking all eight of the available wins so far.

That dominance is expected to continue at this weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, too.

Meanwhile, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton finished third in this month's Canadian Grand Prix.

The British star recently expressed his concerns that Red Bull are so in control this year that they can already turn their attention towards developing next year's car.

Speaking to SkySports, the seven-time world champion said:

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

"So August 1, that's when everybody can start so then no one can get an advantage on the next year, because that s*cks. It would make more sense. They should."

Verstappen’s response to Hamilton

Hitting back at his rival's complaint in his interview with SkySports, Verstappen brought up Hamilton's former dominance in the sport.

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

"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 next year."

Horner’s plea for fairer fight

Unfortunately for Verstappen, though, his Red Bull boss had once argued for a fairer fight, much like Hamilton is now.

Horner was quoted by The Guardian to have said:

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"Is it healthy to have a situation like this?" Horner asked eight years ago whilst Mercedes were leading at the Australian Grand Prix.

"The FIA, within the rules, have an equalisation mechanism and that needs to be looked at. Take nothing away from Mercedes, they have done a super job.

"They have a good car, a fantastic engine and two very good drivers. The problem is that the gap is so big that you end up with three-tier racing and that is not healthy for Formula 1."

But despite swerving his opponent's comeback, Hamilton has suggested he had rather focus on next year already, seemingly accepting this year won't be the year he'll get his first F1 victory since December 2021.

When asked if he can secure a victory before 2023, he said:

“I don’t know. I mean I’m trying to win a race, as I said I really have no idea.

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"Depends where the car goes. I think hopefully we will get close but I can't predict what Aston [Martin] are going to do, what Ferrari are going to do, where Red Bull are going to be. But I hope so.

“I also hope we don't focus too much on winning the race this year. I care less to win a race this year and more to win the championship next year.”

F1 to make gridwalk change

Sports Brief earlier reported the FIA is considering placing restrictions on grid access after an incident at the Spanish Grand Prix where Neymar and several other guests were still on the edge of the main straight when the formation lap got underway.

Celebrities and other invited guests are granted access to the grid at the start of races on Sunday, with reporters often grabbing a quick word with some of them.