LONDON (AP) Lewis Hamilton says Red Bull has by far the fastest car in Formula One and should be considered the early championship favorite.

 

The McLaren driver says ``the Red Bull is ridiculously faster than anyone else's car. It's insane.''

Although Fernando Alonso led a Ferrari 1-2 at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, Hamilton says Red Bull is half a second faster than the Italians per lap.

Hamilton finished third in Bahrain, and says Red Bull has adapted best to the 2010 rules.

Drivers Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber ``have both got the fastest car by quite a big step. They should be quite a lot further ahead in general.''

Hamilton says McLaren is on par with Mercedes going into the Australian GP, behind Red Bull and Ferrari.

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