Motor racing-Red Bull are still 'out in the distance', says Hamilton

Formula One F1 - Pre-Season Testing - Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain - February 23, 2024 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton during a press conference REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

(Reuters) - Formula One champions Red Bull and Max Verstappen, dominant last year, will start the season next week still well ahead of the rest on the evidence of testing in Bahrain, rivals said.

Red Bull won 21 of 22 races in 2023 and are clear favourites, with Verstappen chasing his fourth successive championship.