Mercedes brought a major upgrade to Monaco, including new sidepods, but the package did not getꦿ a true t🃏est until last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix at the more conventional Barcelona circuit. 

The early signs were positive, with Mercedes scoring their first double podium of the season as Hamilton finished second behind 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen, while 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:George Russell pulle🎶d off a remarkable recovery drive to third. 

Asked how much heart Mercedes fans canไ take from the team’s resurgent performance, 1996 world champion Hill told the Sky Sports F1 ꧂podcast: “I think quite a bit, because they’ve actually shown in the race they’ve leapfrogged the threat from Aston Martin and Ferrari. 

“At a circuit where it really pushes the car’s ability to look after it’s tyres and have a good aer🐽o balance🤪, and have good aero performance, it’s actually shown that it’s good potential.

“Barcelona is one of those places where it shows up pure performance, aero package and ability to get balance🗹 and be good on tyres and so forth, which is why the Red Bull’s were so dominant, at least Max’s was! 

“So I think there’s encouraging signs꧋ here for Mercedes, definitely.”

Seven-time world champion Hamilton described the heavily-revised W14 as the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:“best car” he has d🌜riven in 15 months. 

Hill reckons the result will provide a sense of “vindication” for Hamilton, who previously said Mercedes168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史: “didn’t listen” to him 𒉰ov༒er the development of their 2023 car. 

“To hea✅r Lewis say, ‘I’ve enjoyed driving the 𒊎car’, that is a good sign,” Hill added. 

“It’s also vindication for him because he’s been saying, ‘I told you we should h♑ave done something earlier’. 

“They’ve gone and done what he’s been pleading with them to do and they’𝓰ve seen some progress, so well done Lewis.”