Toto: No magic Formula y et for Mercedes

BUT BOSS WOLFF EYEING A SILVER SALVO FROM HAMILTON & RUSSELL

TOTO WOLFF admits Mercedes still have “a mountain to climb” as Silverstone braces itself for Lewis Hamilton fever.

The British Grand Prix weekend has long been a sell-out – tickets went at a record rate – and a staggering crowd of approaching 400,000 is expected over tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.

For the race itself, 142,000 will pack into the Northamptonshire circuit and a huge majority will be cheering on Hamilton and team-mate George Russell.

And after Hamilton managed a podium finish in Montreal a fortnight ago – with Russell a place behind – there has been optimism from his followers and signs Mercedes are getting back on track after a dismal start to the 2022 season.

Throw in Hamilton’s magnificent record around his home track – he has won EIGHT times at Silverstone – and plenty of supporters are more than hopeful Hamilton could grab his first victory of a troubled campaign.

The seven-time world champion also has last season’s epic win at the track – following a controversial comingtogether with Max Verstappen – relatively fresh in his memory.

On top of that, Wolff has been making encouraging noises. But as the Formula One roadshow set up at Silverstone, he was quick to try and lower the growing expectations.

“Canada was our fifth podium of the season and we were happy to collect solid points,” said the Mercedes team principal.

“But while we can be pleased with the flashes of speed that the W13 showed, there’s still a mountain to climb to get to the front.”

While Mercedes are 116 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings, the gap to Ferrari is only 40 and, at fourth in the drivers’ table, Russell is nine points ahead of the Italian team’s Carlos Sainz.

But Wolff insists Mercedes are still a pretty distant third in the pecking order.

He added: “We know the top two teams have a considerable advantage. Our challenge is to close that gap.

“Silverstone has been good to us in the past, we have some improvements coming and it’s a smoother track. We’re aiming to make another step forward and have a clearer direction now.”

With Mercedes suffering more than most from the ‘porpoising’ phenomenon and the stiffness of the suspension, the smoothness of Silverstone will be a welcome relief to Hamilton and Russell.

But 1996 world champion Damon Hill warned if they cannot make ground on Ferrari and Red Bull this weekend then they can probably forget laying down a serious challenge this campaign.

Hill said: “If they can show they’ve got pace then probably, yes, Silverstone is the place we are going to find that out.

“If it’s not there they have really got a problem and people might be jumping out of windows at Mercedes’ Brackley base if that happens.”

Meanwhile, Hamilton is set for another showdown with F1’s governing body over a jewellery row.

The FIA’s deadline to remove his nose stud expires today and if he keeps it in place for first practice tomorrow he is likely to be summoned to the stewards and could even be expelled from his home race