F1 | Lewis Hamilton aims to bounce back with record sixth home win at British Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton is aiming to bounce back from a rare weekend of disappointment by winning his home British Grand Prix for a record sixth time this weekend -- and in front of biggest crowd at historic Silverstone circuit in nearly three deces.

After suffering in heat and rarefied atmosphere of Austria's Styrian Alps, where he finished a hot-and-bored fifth two weeks ago, defending world champion and his Mercedes team are expected to revel in gentler undulations and a wider mix of corners in cooler conditions in central England.

A sixth victory overall and fifth in six years at a track he loves would also be his seventh in 10 races this year and extend his 31-point le ahe of team-mate Valtteri Bottas in drivers' championship.

"This is race that has become most anticipated event of season for me and it is weekend I always enjoy most. Having support of your country concentrated into one weekend really makes for most incredible few days. It is difficult to count what you gain from all that positivity -- everyone's energy is priceless,"  said Hamilton, who was quick to celebrate Wednesday's confirmation of a new five-year contract that will keep British Grand Prix on Formula One calendar until 2024. 

If he wins, Hamilton will move clear of fellow Briton Jim Clark and Frenchman Alain Prost, with whom he shares current record of five wins. After suffering ir first defeat after an unprecedented run of eight victories, Mercedes are keen to restore ir supremacy in team's home event -- both car and engine factories are based close to Silverstone.

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Mercedes 'in good shape' 

" high temperatures in Austria exposed our vulnerability and meant we could t challenge to win. But, fortunately, English summer is kwn for more moderate temperatures so cooling should t be such a major issue. We've h some of our best performances this year on tracks with a wide range of corner speeds so, on paper, we should be in relatively good form,"  said team boss Toto Wolff.
 

His Ferrari counterpart Mattia Bitto played down ir chances of a repeat of Sebastian Vettel's triumph last year, despite ir stronger showing in Austria where Charles Leclerc finished second from pole behind triumphant Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

Four-time world champion Vettel has gone 17 races since last August without a win and lies 76 points rift of Hamilton in title race.

Victory in Austria lifted Verstappen ahe of German and he and Red Bull, based at nearby Milton Keynes, with big local home support, may also be a major threat to Hamilton's home-coming dream after flying in from Los Angeles.

"Max has been best in world, arguably, over last 12 months. He is coming man. This sport is crying out for more drivers like Max," said his team boss Christian Horner
 

Beyond top three teams, McLaren will seek to make an impression tably after confirming an unchanged driver line-up, including British rookie Lando rris, 19, for next year. Silverstone officials believe allure of drivers and an encouraging wear forecast will result in biggest attendance since days of 'Mansell-mania' in early 1990s.

Last year's race-day crowd of 140,500 was biggest of season and Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle said he expects that to be beaten.

"This is going to be largest since Mansell brought people here in ir droves in 1992," he said.

Silverstone circuit, once a wartime airfield, hosted first World Championship Grand Prix in 1950 and, along with Italy, has been an ever-present since.

Italian race at Monza in September is expected to be re-confirmed for future while events in Vietnam and Nerlands are set to be part of a refreshed 21-race calendar in 2020.

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