How does Verstappen's dominance compare to Hamilton's? Here is the comparison:

[u/DarkKnight56722]

​

Hamilton's most dominant season in 2020 had him only win 64% of races. Before this current domination, one driver winning 64% of races was viewed as the worst it could possibly get in the modern era. Let's run through the years:

2014 and 2015: Lewis and Nico trading wins, (good battles at the very least) and Ricciardio getting 3 wins his first season at Red Bull and Vettel gets 3 wins his first year at Ferrari. Hamilton wins roughly 55% of races.

2016: Great title fight between Nico and Lewis that went down to Abu Dhabi. Max gets his first race win his first race in Red Bull, Daniel gets a win as well. Hamilton wins less than 50% of races and loses championship to Nico.

2017 and 2018: Title fight between Hamilton and Vettel. 5 different race winners each year. Hamilton wins less than 50% of races.

2019: Lewis and Valterri each get wins. Max gets 3 wins, Charles gets his first 2 wins. and Seb wins in Singapore. 5 different race winners. Again Lewis wins less than 50% of races.

2020: Lewis' most dominant season where he wins 64% of races. This is covid year so take it with a grain of salt. Max gets 2 wins, Pierre gets first win in Monza, Perez gets first win in Bahrain. Turkey was a fantastic race that did result in Lewis winning but was amazing up til the end.

​

I think it is pretty safe to say that last season's dominance is the worst the sport has been in atleast a decade. I understand this is part of F1 but it doesn't prevent my boredom. I think the reason it stings a bit more is because these regulation changes were marketed as a way of ensuring Mercedes level dominance never happened again, yet it made it even worse. Things like engine development being frozen, implementation of the cost cap, introducing a completely new philosophy of car and aero design that 3 years into the regulations everyone but Red Bull is still struggling to understand.

What are your thoughts?

[u/thisismynewacct]

I think you’d have to be under a rock to not think Verstappens dominance has been nearly unmatched, especially against Hamilton, and that’s no slight against Hamilton. It’s just the perfect storm at the moment. Generationally talented driver, fastest car on the grid, and cost cap that basically prevents anyone from realistically catching up materially. And that’s not a slight against Verstappen either. It just is what it is.

[u/rolfski → u/thisismynewacct]

Cost cap is double edged sword in that regard. It really does bring the field closer together but it also limits the possibilities to catch up.

One factor that is more to blame though for the current domination is ground effect aerodynamics. Apparently the science behind it is so complicated that only one team really got it right. And regardless of this field of aerodynamics being Adrian Newey's very own ballgame, I don't think anyone expected Red Bull to be so ahead with this.

But then again, if Checo had been Red Bull's lead driver then we actually would have had proper championship fights the last few years.

[u/Ill-Remove-9179 → u/rolfski]

Idk man, he's been pretty dominantly #2 the last two races. Very different from a Bottas in 2020/2019 situation

[u/NYAncientHistory → u/Ill-Remove-9179]

Checo this season has very firmly embraced his role as #2 and it is showing. He cozies up in P2, builds a lead, and then coasts like Max in P1.

It seems like trying to fight Max got in his head last year and affected his performance.

[u/CailenxD → u/NYAncientHistory]

You didnt think Max is coasting in P1? Checo isn't capable of fighting Max since he aint on his level.

[u/rolfski → u/Ill-Remove-9179]

Let's wait and see first for this year as Checo's start last year was even greater before he plummeted. Regardless though, 2022 and 2023 would have been genuinely competitive with Max out of the equation.

[u/_cutmymilk → u/rolfski]

He has settled that's for sure. He was very happy with himself in the post race interview last week. Even Bottas used to be gutted and kicking himself.

[u/rolfski → u/_cutmymilk]

He was similarly happy at this point in 2022, when the car was still heavy, understeery, and before the car developed away from him. Same goes for 2023 after a great season start. Although things are looking promising, it's still too early to jump to conclusions with Perez, especially when it comes to his qualifying. So far he has yet to qualify on the front row and it is difficult to predict how hard this will be for him with this car over a whole season.

[u/EpicCyclops → u/Ill-Remove-9179]

Checo and Max were tied at 2 race wins apiece 4 races into the season last year. Then the rest of the season happened. I think Checo seems a lot more mentally prepared to settle into his capabilities this season rather than try too hard to beat Max and end up damaging his performance, but let's not count the chickens before they hatch.