Mercedes’ cruciaܫl new front wing has been labelled a “Eureka moment” which could restore their competitiveness.

The struggling team e𝓰njoyed a hugely encouraging weekend in Canada last time out, with Georg♔e Russell finishing third and Lewis Hamilton fourth.

Russell had claimed po📖le position too, on the first weekend that both Mercedes drivers ran their recently upgraded front wing.

F1 Nation podcast host Tom Clarkson commented: “Thꦍere is no doubt that it’s all about the flexi front wing.

“Staying within the regulations, there is a load that the fro🃏nt win𝓰g has to carry.

“It is not allowed to flex more than a certain amou🍌nt with that load on it.

“As long as it 🦋passes that test, it can do whatever it wants beyond that.

“Red Bull nailed that from the start of these regu꧃lations.

“Mercedes nai💙led it down. It’s been a Eureka moment for them.

“They have now found it. I think it’s really exciting going forw💯ard ♏for Formula 1.

“[Russell] and Maxꦍ Verstappen set an identical lap time in qualifying which hasn’t happened since 1997.

“F1 is really competitive now. Who is going to w🐲in in Barcelo𓃲na? Probably Red Bull will be stronger.

“But McLaren are 🌱so good now. Mercedes are comi🦹ng on.

“It ꦺwas confirmation from Mercedes in Montreal. I think they are back! “They are not yet on the level on a high-speed track of Red Bull. But they are certainly back and will be contenders every weekend.”

Natalie Pinkham replied: “Barcelona will be so revealing because it’s a track with a bi༒t of everything.

“It’s so exciting for fans because 🌳there could be eight cars in it, fighting for pole 🎃and for victory.

“We were waxing lyrical about Charles Leclerc at the last race and now he’s not the talk of the tꦚown.”

Clarkson reflected on the F1 Canadian Grand Prix: “With a small change in the trajectory of the race, any one of the topꦕ three could have won.

“If Lando reacted to the Safety Car and come in when everyon🦄e else came in, he would’ve won that raceꦫ.

“George was the least likelജy with the performance characteristics of that Mercedes.

“It wa𝐆s so close. I can’t think🍸 of a closer weekend in a long time.”

Clarkson feels that the converging of the F1 field means Verstappen no long𝓰er benefits from an Ayrton Senna-like aura to dissuade rivals from attacking him.

“Now, the drivers feel that ‘we can compete with this guy’ꦺ,” Clarkson said.

“The feeling in the pitl𝕴ane is different. The determination of Lando and Oscar and Lewis and George is different.”