Lewis Hamilton is keeping an eye on Red Bull’s potential this season, believing their old strength in downforce is returning.
After two wins in the past three races, Max Verstappen has brought the gap between himself and the Briton down by almost a quarter to 63 points heading into the second half of the season.
Two more strong victory chances also come in the next four races, but thanks to new engine supplier Honda, Hamilton thinks Red Bull is coming into the fight at every circuit.
“It might be that way this weekend [in Hungary] and I think Singapore will be strong for them,” he said on Friday in Budapest.
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“When we get to the longer places like Monza, it could be different this year, they have a new power unit, they’re not lower than us on power.
“I think in some places they’ve got more power than us. It will be interesting to see how they go in those other places.”
That last line likely refers to how Red Bull can use higher engine modes than Mercedes in hotter conditions as shown in Austria rather than in pure power which remains in their favour.
However, as that gap continues to close, Hamilton knows it is allowing the Milton Keynes outfit to return to their speciality, downforce.
“I think what people need to remember is that it’s a multi-championship winning team,” he explained.
“They’ve always had a very good car. You’ve got Adrian Newey there, who’s one of the best designers there is in the sport.
“They had a slump with a little bit less power, then they had a period of time where they had a little bit less downforce than most people that has definitely crept back up and started to utilise the car more.
“Both drivers are starting to put in good performances, so they’re there, and it is clearly a very good car. We’re in a period of time where it suits them.”
