Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes would be well advised to ignore all previous form and a pile of encouraging statistics as they bid to bounce back at their home British Grand Prix on Sunday. After the debacle of their double retirement at last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix, where they were previously unbeaten in four years, and Hamilton's travails in Canada, where he was a clear pre-race favourite, the Mercedes team has lost its near-metronomic consistency. Forecasts of their continuing supremacy on tracks where they have always seemed invincible are no longer as trustworthy as they have been.

Max Verstappen's victory in Austria, his first this year, rewarded Red Bull's opportunism, but his Milton Keynes-based team and Ferrari may face a struggle to match a resurgent Hamilton, reliability permitting, in front of his own fans. The 33-year-old Englishman will be hunting a record fifth consecutive British triumph at Silverstone, and his sixth overall, on Sunday to regain the lead in the title race from fellow four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari. The German, who finished third in Spielberg, has a one-point advantage, following Hamilton's first non-scoring finish in 34 races dating back to the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix, but expects a difficult weekend on a circuit that should suit Mercedes.