Mercedes tasted victory for the primary time this Method 1 season final week in Austria, as George Russell capitalized on a late-race incident between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, storming to the entrance to take the checkered flag on the Austrian Grand Prix. Can the Silver Arrows make it two in a row with a win at dwelling within the British Grand Prix?
Whereas that is likely to be a tall order given what we’ve got seen from McLaren and Pink Bull to date — extra on that in a second — the group obtained off to an “encouraging” begin in Friday’s two follow classes on the historic Silverstone circuit.
Lewis Hamilton completed seventh in FP1, operating a mixture of the laborious and the medium compound, after which improved to P6 within the second session whereas operating a mixture of all three compounds, together with some runs on the softs. Russell was on the same program, putting fifth within the first session on a mixture runs utilizing the hards and the mediums, after which completed tenth within the second session whereas utilizing all three compounds.
“P1 was a robust session with the automobile feeling nice. FP2 was a barely tougher hour, and we have to choose by way of why that was,” reported Russell within the group’s post-practice media report. “It was a lot windier, and I don’t assume we obtained the [tires] in the fitting window, so that would clarify a piece of it. The situations are more likely to change throughout the weekend, with extra rain doable too, so we must be adaptive.”
“The automobile felt typically good at the moment. We’re nonetheless just a little bit behind the final word tempo on the entrance however at the moment was encouraging. I don’t assume the occasions are absolutely consultant of the place our pace was, however nonetheless, we all know we’ve obtained work to do tonight,” mentioned Hamilton. “We’ll due to this fact do what we will to attempt to discover extra efficiency and hopefully that may get us just a little nearer to these forward.”
So far as the pecking order after the primary day, Russell put McLaren and Pink Bull a bit forward of Mercedes, indicating that it is likely to be a battle with the Ferraris on faucet this weekend for the Silver Arrows.
“After at the moment’s operating, I’d say that the aggressive image appears just like the previous few races. McLaren and Max [Verstappen] look a step forward and it’s shut between ourselves and Ferrari,” added Russell. “We’ll work laborious in a single day to attempt to take a step ahead and see the place that leaves us tomorrow.”
As has been argued right here and elsewhere, over the previous three race weekends no group has been hotter than Mercedes. The Silver Arrows have scored 100 factors over that stretch, greater than McLaren, Ferrari, and sure, Pink Bull.
Can they prolong that streak at Silverstone? It is likely to be too early to inform, however the week did get off to an encouraging begin for the group.
