Lewis Hamilton has called on the FIA to mandate a start time when Formula 1 teams can begin development on the next season's car - amid fears Red Bull is already focused on 2024. Red Bull are heavy favourites to retain both titles having won all nine races so far this term and such is its advantage, Hamilton believes that the Milton Keynes-based outfit is already switching attention to next year's challenger. The Mercedes driver feels this could lock in a further advantage for Red Bull, especially as the Silver Arrows are locked in a fight for second place with Aston Martin and Ferrari.
Hamilton's FIA demand
"The car is moving in the right direction, I think ultimately it's likely that bit by bit at the end of the year, we will probably catch Red Bull," Hamilton told Sky Sports . "But that is probably because they are already focusing on next year's car. They're so far ahead, they don't have to make any changes to this car anymore. "I think the FIA should probably put a time when everyone is allowed to start developing on next year's car. "Say August 1, that's where everybody can start so that no one can get an advantage on the next year, cause that sucks. "It would make more sense. "Say for example you start the season and you know you have a bad car, you can just say: 'I'm not going to bother developing this car and put all this money into next year's car and have an advantage.' "We never started as early as them, and it needs to change because that's why you have dominance for so long and they keep allowing it to happen. "Ferrari was ahead and the same thing happened there, the same with Red Bull and Sebastian [Vettel] back in the day, they start earlier so they're always ahead."
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