France could be the silver lining for Mercedes

THE battle between Mercedes and Red Bull continues this weekend at the French Grand Prix at the Circuit Paul Ricard.

Here, we look at three factors to consider and one concern as Formula One begins a triple header in the coming weeks.

Super ’Checo’ on a roll

Sergio Perez of Red Bull is the only driver to finish in the Top 5 in the last four races, and has certainly found form and an understanding of his car. In Portugal he finished fourth, then fifth in Spain, and raced to a fourth-place finish in Monaco.

Last week he held his nerve and rode his luck to claim his first victory - a second career win - for his new team in an exciting GP in Baku.

His continued upturn will do wonders for Red Bull, and another good weekend in France tomorrow could even put him in contention for the world drivers' championship.

He gives Red Bull more options in race strategy, and with Valtteri Bottas struggling in his Silver Arrow, adds extra pressure on any tactic Mercedes roll out.

The red/orange spectrum

Ferrari and McLaren are not expected to push for a podium place this weekend. Rather, they will be the best of the rest behind Mercedes and Red Bull.

The circuit has a mix of high and medium speed corners and the layout is therefore not conducive to the Scuderia's set-up, as it was the slow nature of Monaco and Baku in the turns that made them more competitive.

Instead, they will be in a fight to keep their slight lead over great rivals McLaren.

Charles Leclerc is once again getting the best out of his SF21, proving to all and sundry that he is an impressive talent. Meanwhile, Lando Norris is in a purple patch, driving his McLaren with confidence - he has not finished outside the Top 10 so far this season.

Their mid-field battle could possibly be one of the highlights of the weekend, more so as Carlos Sainz junior is also finding his rhythm at the Prancing Horse.

A track for Mercedes

Lewis Hamilton, Bottas and Mercedes have had a tough time in the last two GPs. In Monaco Sir Hamilton finished seventh. Bottas did not finish.

A fortnight ago, Hamilton made a mistake that possibly cost him the victory in Baku, and completed the Azerbaijan GP in 15, with his teammate three places better.

The Circuit Paul Ricard presents Mercedes an opportunity to strike back and wrestle the initiative away from Red Bull.

It is a layout that requires a low down-force set-up, placing less stress on the rear tyres, which is when the Silver Arrows are more comfortable. Any advantage that Red Bull has in pace can be scrubbed out, as Hamilton and Co will be quicker in a straight line and possibly in qualifying as well.

If Verstappen and Perez make a fist of the race - they don't necessarily have to win the GP - then it will bode well for them going forward.

And that one concern: It could be Spain all over again ...

The French GP often draws comparisons to the Spanish GP, and that is not a good thing.

The tracks are similar, the car set-ups equally so, and the overtaking opportunities are limited.

It does have some brilliant sections, such as the Mistral Straight, Turn 10 Signes which is almost flat-out, and the horse-shoe 5g-inducing Beausset (Turn 11), but more often than not if a driver is in the lead at the end of the first lap, it will end that way.

Since returning to the calendar in 2018, the GP has not quickened the blood of viewers. Perhaps this weekend will be different?