The 2024 F1 season doesn't look likely to be much different to last year's domination from Max Verstappen after the Dutchman steamrolled to victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Red Bull have been far and away the best team in F1 since the regulation change in 2022 with their rivals failing to challenge.
It all came to a head last year with Verstappen winning an unprecedented 19 of the 22 races.
The season was practically wrapped up after just a handful of races with F1 fans turning off in their droves towards the end of the campaign.
Max Verstappen comfortably won the first race of the year
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F1 was desperate for Red Bull's rivals to close the gap in the offseason for the new campaign and there was genuine optimism that Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes had managed to do just that.
Red Bull were still the stong favourites, but pre-season testing and free practice in Bahrain indicated that it would at least be a closer battle.
But that all proved to be smoke and mirrors heading into Saturday's race with Verstappen once again sitting on pole.
And Verstappen was in a race of his own after avoiding any danger in the first lap.
Not even Sergio Perez, who is fighting to keep his seat at Red Bull beyond this season, could be caught by the chasing pack and he was still over 20 seconds behind his team-mate.
Some F1 fans didn't even feel the need to keep watching to see Verstappen take the chequered flag at the end.
One social media message read: "Time to turn the tv off Max Verstappen has won already."
Another person posted early in the race: "Already debating to turn it off seeing Verstappen extend the gap at the top already."
A third person said: "Might as well hand Verstappen the title already. Boring, boring, borrrrrriiiiinnnnngggg."
Max Verstappen avoided trouble on the first lap
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One other message read: "Verstappen is making this sport very BORING !!!!!!"
Another moaned: "Verstappen gonna win every race. Most boring season opener ever."
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Max Verstappen was in a race all on his own
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Jeremy Clarkson summed up the glum mood around F1 after speaking to Martin Brundle before the race on the Bahrain grid.
The Grand Tour presenter noted how lap times around the Bahrain International Circuit this year were almost identical to the 2023 race.
And when asked who he was backing in Bahrain, Clarkson cheekily replied: "Adrian Newey."
The iconic car designer looks to have done it again with the RB20 - much to the annoyance of the average F1 viewer.
