Hamilton’s comments come at a time when Verstappen continues to dominate, while his Red Bull teammates have struggled to match his pace. This has led to speculation that Verstappen may be receiving upgraded parts or setups that give him an edge over his teammates, a move that would be seen as favoritism by the team.

The RB20, Red Bull’s latest iteration for the 2024 season, has been a competitive car but has shown varying levels of performance depending on who is behind the wheel. Verstappen has consistently been at the top of the leaderboard, while his teammates, including Sergio Perez, have often found themselves further down the grid.

Hamilton pointed out these discrepancies, suggesting that Verstappen’s car might be benefiting from a more aggressive development strategy. “It’s not just about skill; there’s a clear difference in the setups. You can see it on the straights, in the corners. There’s something going on with Max’s car that the others aren’t getting.”

While Red Bull has always maintained that both cars receive equal treatment, Hamilton’s remarks have added fuel to the ongoing speculation that Verstappen is the clear focus of the team’s efforts, possibly at the expense of his teammates.

Verstappen’s dominance in recent years has been undeniable. He’s not only a two-time world champion but has also shown a remarkable ability to adapt to different race conditions and push his car to its limits. This season, despite Red Bull’s struggles, Verstappen continues to outperform expectations, leading to whispers within the F1 community that his car may be getting more attention from the team’s engineers.

Hamilton’s comments are likely to spark further debate about whether Red Bull is giving Verstappen a performance advantage to ensure his continued success. If true, it raises ethical questions about fairness within the team and the impact on Red Bull’s other drivers.

So far, Red Bull has remained tight-lipped about the allegations of favoritism. Team principal Christian Horner has previously emphasized that both drivers receive the same equipment and opportunities, downplaying any rumors of unequal treatment.

“We develop our cars equally for both drivers,” Horner said in an earlier statement. “Max’s results are a reflection of his ability and focus, and we stand by the team’s commitment to treating both drivers fairly.”

However, with Hamilton now weighing in on the matter, the spotlight is back on Red Bull to prove that they are not prioritizing one driver over the other.

Hamilton’s remarks come at a critical time for Red Bull as they navigate a challenging season. The team’s struggles have been well-documented, but Verstappen’s continued success despite these issues has only intensified questions about internal favoritism. For Hamilton, who has faced his own team dynamics over the years at Mercedes, the suggestion that Verstappen is receiving special treatment is not one to be taken lightly.

As the 2024 season progresses, the focus will undoubtedly shift to how Red Bull addresses these concerns and whether Verstappen’s teammates can close the gap. Hamilton’s comments, while subtle, have the potential to ignite further discussions about equality within F1 teams and the role of favoritism in the sport.

Lewis Hamilton’s pointed remarks about Red Bull’s possible favoritism towards Max Verstappen have once again stirred the pot in the F1 world. As fans and analysts scrutinize the differences in performance between the RB20 cars, the question remains: Is Verstappen really getting an advantage, or is his success purely down to his driving skills? With the season still unfolding, this debate is far from over, and all eyes will be on Red Bull’s response in the coming races.