Mercedes reveal if they’re expecting to have race-winning pace at Silverstone

George Russell and Sir Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to challenge for their first victory of the season at home this weekend.

Mercedes chief technical officer Andrew Shovlin is hopeful that the Silver Arrows can have their best weekend yet at the upcoming British Grand Prix.

Mercedes have spent the first nine rounds of the year working through their “porpoising” and bouncing issues that have been caused by the ground effect aerodynamics under the new technical regulations.

Not only has that cost them time on the straights, but it has caused immense discomfort for both Sir Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

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The British pair have mostly been feeding off scraps this season, managing five podiums off the back of some misfortune for Red Bull and Ferrari, but in terms of raw performance, they are a long way off the form that won them eight consecutive constructors’ titles.

Now though, with one or two upgrades on the way and a much smoother track surface to contend with this weekend, there is an air of nervous excitement that the British Grand Prix could be the race in which things come together.

“Everyone in our factory doesn’t dare say it but we are cautiously optimistic of having a more competitive weekend than some of those we’ve had of late,” Allison told Sky Sports.

“I think some characteristics of this circuit will suit this car but we don’t have a car capable of winning from the front yet.

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“But I think as long as we can get the car tamed through Maggots, Becketts and around the faster of the corners then I think we have a decent chance of a competitive showing this weekend.

“And maybe if the Red Bulls stumble who knows, but I am hopeful, hopeful of a better weekend.”

Following months of hardship – and a period during which the German side might even have been looking over the shoulder at the midfield – getting back to winning ways might be a bit emotional.

“Absolutely, well I’d cry, it would be a fantastic thing,” quipped Allison when asked about getting back to the front of the order.

“I’ve just got my fingers crossed that we’ll have a credible showing with a car that’s on the mend.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner previously hinted that Mercedes might be “a factor” this weekend due to the nature of the Silverstone Circuit so, for the first time this year, we may finally get the three-way fight we were praying for at the start of the season.