Are Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes back on track as they rev up for French Grand Prix?

Are Mercedes finally on the march again?

That’s the big question ringing around the paddock as F1 heads for a French Grand Prix in the sweltering hills that run down to the Mediterranean.

And the same could be asked of Ferrari. With victory in Austria, Charles Leclerc bought to an end a bruising few months in which either the Ferrari cars, their drivers or their strategy proved desperately brittle.

So, as we step into the second half of the championship at Paul Ricard, it is salivating to suppose the new ground effect formula is finally coming good.

Some seasoned onlookers are convinced the nature of their performances as well as five podiums in six races confirm the rise of Mercedes.

After all, nailing down their slot as the third best team in F1 is pretty small change for the reigning constructors champions and their ambitions are far higher, even this far into the season.

Paul Ricard’s billiard table smooth surface plays to the strengths of the Silver Arrows and some ambitious souls believe talk of a Mercedes win should be on the agenda.

They cite the fact that Hamilton is apparently over his early season doldrums and joining Russell as a consistent force.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc celebrates after winning the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring on Sunday, July 10, 2022

Even though any hope of winning the driver’s championship has clearly gone, my bet is all ambitions at Mercedes are focused on getting back to their winning ways primarily to be best set for a full-on title tilt in 2023.

Max Verstappen is just too consistent for them to bridge the gap even if regular front-running form returns.

Hamilton trails the world champion by 99 points and would have to average around 10 points MORE a race to get back into