What rival F1 team boss said when asked if they were surprised by Mercedes victory at Silverstone

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Mercedes had one of their best weekends in Formula 1 since the 2021 season after both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton locked out the front row in qualifying and the latter went on to win.

It was their first race win on merit since the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix, while the team produced unlikely back-to-back victories after Russell inherited the win in Austria when Lando Norris and Max Verstappen collided on track.

Even though this might seem quite sudden for a team that has struggled with its form in the last couple of races, Mercedes has been working hard behind the scenes to produce a car that is easier to set up for their drivers.

The signs of improved form began at the Canadian Grand Prix when they introduced their new front wing, but this also followed updates to the bodywork of the W15 at Miami and new floor at Imola.

The question is whether they can continue this momentum into the second half of the season. According to one rival team boss who spoke BBC F1 writer Andrew Benson, it could be good news for Mercedes fans.

Mercedes win at Silverstone ‘proves’ they are back to being front runners

Silverstone is one of the circuits that tests a cars raw speed on the calendar with its high-speed corners, which is largely where Mercedes was gaining time on Red Bull and McLaren.

The team brought a circuit-specific rear and beam wing in a bid to cut the amount of drag, which is something similar to what they did at Austria.

When a rival team principal was asked by Benson, believes Silverstone’s characteristics benefitted Mercedes the most: “It was already clear they were very competitive in high-speed corners. And Silverstone is full of them.”

Benson goes on to say that while the result does not mean that Mercedes will keep winning races, it proves they are back to being regular front runners on the grid.

Mercedes has more to come at Hungary and Belgium

Mercedes is expected to bring more updates to their car at the upcoming races in Hungary and Belgium, which should help it maintain its momentum and stay with Red Bull and McLaren.

Part of the reason why they won Silverstone was also down to Hamilton’s impressive ability in the changeable conditions, but their raw speed unlocked by the latest car updates should be strengths at the next two tracks.

Russell and Hamilton stand a chance of overtaking Sergio Perez in the Drivers’ Championship standings, which could lead to the Mexican being ousted midway through the year.

With such an upset likely to impact Red Bull’s performance on track, the second half of the season looks set to be all to play for between the top four teams.