Lewis Hamilton has said that he finds Red Bull’s recent complaints about Mercedes’ dominance in Formula 1 “funny” given the team’s own success in the sport over the past five years.
Following another dominant display by Mercedes at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix two weeks ago, Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko said that the team could quit the sport unless steps were made to level the playing field.
His thoughts were echoed by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who believes that the FIA should tweak the regulations to give the rest of the grid a chance to catch up with Mercedes.
For Hamilton, this comments were a source of humor given that Red Bull enjoyed a similar level of dominance in F1 between 2010 and 2013, winning four straight drivers’ and constructors’ championships.
“I find it quite funny and interesting that the opinion is coming from individuals who have had so much success,” Hamilton said.
“Also bearing in mind it has only been one race, so to already have comments like this is what I find funny.”
Hamilton believes that it is simply a case of Mercedes working hard and doing a better job than Red Bull over the past few years to give itself such an advantage.
“It was a big step for me to come to this team that had so many years of poor performance,” Hamilton said. “They hadn’t had the success of other teams, but not once did this team complain to others in order to equalize things.
“Now we are the best team. We have pulled together and done an amazing job. It is not just me here. There are 1,000 people back at the two factories who are working day and night to build the best car.
“We have done that with the same rules and resources as the other teams have had. I am very proud of that.”
