Mercedes returns with historic victory by Hamilton – Is the team back on top?

Lewis Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix, ending an almost three-year drought without a victory – and this in his last home race for Mercedes. This historic triumph places him once again in the history books, as he becomes the first driver to win after 300 races. Hamilton’s teammate, George Russell, tipped his hat to the performance and congratulated him right after the race. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff spoke emotionally about the challenging past years and referred to Hamilton’s victory as a "fairy tale." The success shows that Mercedes, after two lean seasons, has found its way back to the podium – the question remains whether this upswing is sustainable. The technical challenges of the new regulations, which came into effect in 2022, significantly slowed Mercedes’ previously dominant run. An issue called "porpoising," an uncontrolled bouncing of the cars, had a major impact on the team’s performance and reliability. Upgrades and structural changes generated hope, but it took time for significant progress to become visible. Russell’s victory in Austria, the first since 2022, was seen as groundbreaking. Wolff spoke of a "gradual performance improvement," accompanied by steady technical upgrades. The introduction of a new floor in Spain, for example, enabled Mercedes to secure podium positions again, and the drivers’ confidence grew. Mercedes particularly demonstrated in Silverstone that it could attack through the chase and compete against rivals like Red Bull and McLaren. The ongoing improvements and meticulous analyses may now have been the last missing piece of the puzzle to consistently fight for victories. Is Mercedes truly back? Wolff emphasizes that the lessons learned and the historic win this weekend suggest so. Additionally, further upgrades are planned for the upcoming races in Hungary and Belgium, which have the potential to bring Mercedes back to the top.