Lewis Hamilton is enjoying a bit of a resurgence in recent weeks and ended the Canadian Grand Prix with a podium finish.
This has prompted fans of Hamilton and Mercedes to believe that his fortunes may now change, especially given how Mercedes is also expected to enter the next race at Silverstone with fresh updates.
However, according to former teammate and friend-turned-foe Nico Rosberg, the likelihood of Hamilton adding to his eight British Grand Prix triumphs is remote.
As things stand, the Mercedes W13 is lacking in performance compared to the likes of Red Bull and Aston Martin.
In the light of Mercedes’ lack of consistency all season, Rosberg believes Hamilton has “no chance” of winning the Grand Prix for a record ninth time. He is currently tied with Michael Schumacher on eight wins in a Grand Prix (Schumacher achieved this in the French GP).
“No, he can’t win, no way,” Rosberg said when asked if Hamilton could win in Silverstone.
“They’re (Mercedes) still too far away from performance of Ferrari and Red Bull. They’re still miles away.”
Elliott backs Hamilton and Russell to come good
Mercedes may not have got its design right at the start of the season, but technical director Mike Elliott recently said that his team was optimistic that it could cut the gap between itself and the top two teams.
“We will be bringing new bits to Silverstone, we will be trying to push the car forward, trying to get some pace from the car we’ve got or from the package we’ve got as well as the new bits we are going to add to it,” Elliott said.
“I think at the same time though we have to be honest with ourselves and say that at the moment we are just a little bit behind those front runners in Ferrari and Red Bull. And in a normal race I think it is going to be tough.
“I think Silverstone will be a circuit that suits us a little bit better, like Barcelona did, but maybe it will be just a little bit difficult. Whatever happens we will push as hard as we can.
“Our drivers will push as hard as we can because we want to get back to winning. We want to win for the team, we definitely want to win and we want to win for you, the fans, so let’s see what happens.”
Do you think Hamilton will be able to defy logic and somehow script a famous win in the upcoming British Grand Prix? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.