A recovering Mercedes side may soon start winning again as it continues to narrow the gap with Formula One leaders Red Bull and Ferrari, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has said.

Hamilton finished third at Silverstone, a record 13th time he has finished on the podium at his home race, and led for the first time this year. He also set the fastest lap for a bonus point.

Reigning champions Mercedes, struggling with a bouncing car for most of the previous races after dominating for the past eight years, brought in a package of upgrades to improve performance.

"We've made a step closer to them. So we've got to keep pushing," said Hamilton after Sunday's race was won by Ferrari's Spaniard Carlos Sainz, with Red Bull's Mexican Sergio Perez second.

"The fact that we were able to follow and dice like that, lap on lap, is a testament to the direction I think that we're now in. I was just grateful that I could be in the battle. Because I've not been in that fight for a while."

The podium was Hamilton's third in 10 races but the result meant that for the first time in a Formula One career that started with McLaren in 2007 he has gone 11 races without a victory.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen won the final race of 2021 in controversial circumstances to take his first world championship.

"I think it's hugely encouraging that we were in the fight," said Hamilton.

"For a good period of time, I was matching the Ferraris’ pace, and even better at some stages. And we got the quickest lap at the end.

"I think the race pace was definitely improved. That's been our strongest part of our car, I think, this year in general. But it's definitely helped us get a little bit closer.

"I don't think we're in a winning position yet. But we're not far away."