Russell aiming to continue rejuvenated title charge at home British Grand Prix

[p]The 28-year-old Briton, who is 40 points behind the 19-year-old Italian in the drivers’ title race after eight rounds of the 22-race championship, has recovered the form that made him the pre-season title favourite.[/p][p]His second win of the season at the Red Bull Ring last Sunday came after claiming two consecutive pole positions.[/p][p]It showed he had shaken off a difficult run of form and fortune earlier this year as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/antonelli-andrea-kimi/ptGu0mT1/"]Antonelli[/a] reeled off five consecutive victories to take command of the title race.[/p][p]After winning nine of the last 13 British races and seven this year, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/russell-george/xxF56RaN/"]Russell[/a]’s Mercedes team go into the weekend as the team best equipped for the high-speed Silverstone challenge with a car and power unit package that has been outstanding.[/p][p]But the Silver Arrows, based at nearby Brackley, will not have it all their own way as defending champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/norris-lando/WSVABbVF/"]Lando Norris[/a] of McLaren, Ferrari's seven-time champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hamilton-lewis/tI5Vpe1h/"]Lewis Hamilton[/a] and resurgent four-time champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/verstappen-max/UV3mgeXB/"]Max Verstappen[/a] of Red Bull are all former winners seeking further success.[/p][embed guid="4302922a-d42a-4c70-8bfa-7b19bfe339f6" url="https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/2072259047139553288" social-type="twitter" /][p]Hamilton, in particular, having claimed his first victory for Ferrari and the 106th of his career in Spain three weeks ago, will relish the challenge as he bids for a record-extending 10th home win at a circuit he loves.[/p][p]But he knows too that Ferrari’s power disadvantage, as exposed in Austria, where Mercedes and Red Bull shone, will hold them back.[/p][p][b]"There’s no magic fix in racing,"[/b] he said.[b] "It’s a lot of small steps."[/b][/p][p]Russell said he would welcome a multi-team scrap for the title as the new 'hybrid era' continues to provide unpredictable and changeable racing, with little separating the top four teams.[/p][p][b]"I’d love a big fight,"[/b] said Russell.[/p][p][b]"To be honest, you want the best drivers with the best teams all fighting and, of course, Max is very much one of the best – with Lewis, Charles, Lando, Oscar...[/b][/p][p][b]"The more, the merrier. It feels like when we all raced in go-karting… That’s how it should be."[/b][/p][embed guid="316f2fd1-aaaa-418b-821c-35b9a72ab063" url="https://x.com/MercedesAMGF1/status/2072031860029366416" social-type="twitter" /][p]A first Russell win on home ground would complete a hat-trick of British wins following Hamilton and Norris in 2024 and 2025. The trio formed a first all-British podium since 1968 when they finished first, second and third in Catalunya.[/p][p][b]"I’m so looking forward to it,"[/b] said Russell. [b]"It's the atmosphere, the fans. I’m sure it's going to be great."[/b][/p][p]Verstappen, a close second in Austria in his heavily revised Red Bull, has played down his prospects, explaining that on a high-speed, power-hungry track, "you barely have any battery around the lap – it’s just constantly flat out."[/p][p]It will be the fourth ‘sprint’ weekend of the season.[/p]