In Austria this weekend, however, leader Max Verstappen (Red Bull) will be the big favorite for victory.
With the 11th Grand Prix of the 22 of the season, Austria marks the middle of the course and Verstappen is already sure to enter the second part of the World Cup at the head of the general. The Dutch driver has a 34-point advantage over the second, his Red Bull teammate, the Mexican Sergio Pérez.
Regarding the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) he has a 43-point margin, while Hamilton is in a discreet sixth place in the world ranking of drivers, 88 points behind Verstappen.
In the first ten races of the year, Red Bull and Ferrari have shared the victories, with seven and three respectively. Mercedes, dominant in previous years, is forced to settle for a few podiums (three for Hamilton, three for George Russell).
The ‘Silver Arrows’ are not having their best year, but in recent weeks there is some reason for hope.
Last week at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, introduced new developments to your car and, finally, they appeared in the fight for victory.
Hamilton’s car went on to find itself in the lead throughout the race, before finishing in third place.
An eighth world title seems a long way off for ‘Sir Lewis’, but winning his 104th race looks ever closer.
Spielberg is not, in principle, a traditionally conducive place for Mercedes, as the Austrian boss of the team, Toto Wolff, recalls: “It is a very different circuit to Silverstone, which has not been good for us in the past”.
While at Silverstone long corners dominate, in Austria the race will be decided in the ‘slow’ corners, something that Mercedes does not finish convincing. In six races since 2018 in Austria, Mercedes has won there twice.