Who is on Pole at the Halfway point of the season?

Round 11 of the Formula One Championship comes from the iconic Hockenheimring in Germany, a home race for both Constructor contender in Mercedes and Sebastian Vettel. When you take this into account, the pressure is on the Mercedes duo of Hamilton and Bottas to stop Ferrari from winning in their own backyard, especially after three consecutive races that saw the Silver Arrows lose ground.

The German Grand prix also signals the half-way point in the season, and with just one race to go in Budapest next weekend before the summer break, Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari will want to be on top of their game over the next 10-days. Let’s take a look at the teams in the hunt for the constructor’s titles and their drivers after the first half of the season, and see where the balance of power lies in what has been a thrilling and tight campaign thus far.

Mercedes

After playing second fiddle to Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel in the opening two races of the season, the Silver Arrows came good in Azerbaijan and Spain, Hamilton winning both, with Bottas following up his second place finishes in Bahrain and China, by coming home in second place behind Hamilton to give Mercedes the perfect weekend in Barcelona.

Monaco and Canada saw the team and drivers drop more points with just two podium finishes from a possible four, Hamilton coming third in a boring Monaco race, and Bottas securing his 4th second place finish of the season in Canada.

With a three-consecutive race schedule set for France, Austria and Britain, Hamilton stormed to his third race win of the season in France, only for the team to suffer a double retirement in Austria for the first time since 1958. This was a massive blow for the team after an engine upgrade package the week before was supported by and massive aerodynamic package, giving them what looked to be an unbeatable car in Red Bull’s backyard.

What was expected to be a fifth consecutive win for Hamilton at Silverstone last time out ended in disappointment for the defending champion. After a collision on the first turn with Raikkonen, for which the Finn was penalised, Hamilton was forced to chase the whole race, eventually finishing second behind his rival Vettel, leaving the defending champion 8-points adrift of the German.

During the triple header, Ferrari accumulated 98-points, Red Bull 65 and Mercedes 61. Mercedes Team principle Toto Wolff admitted that this is well below expectations, however did stress that despite this, the one main positive they have going into Germany and the second half of the season is the fact that the team have managed to deliver a very fast car, underlined by the fact that they secured pole in all three races.

Mercedes are 4/9 favourites to win the Constructors title again, with Hamilton 4/6 to win a fifth World Title.

Ferrari

Ferrari started the season in spectacular fashion with Vettel storming to opening wins in Australia and Bahrain with Raikkonen getting a third and a DNF. This set a precedent for what to expect from the Italian outfit, with fans still believing a first Constructors title since 2008 remains firmly within reach.

China, Azerbaijan and Monaco didn’t go according to plan with Vettel and Raikkonen achieving a podium finish each, leaving the team with plenty of work to do. That they did, as Vettel stormed to victory in both Canada and Britain, with his Finnish teammate securing a third, second and third in France, Austria and Britain respectively, a welcome return to form for the 2007 World Champion.

That said one can’t help thinking Ferrari are still slightly off the pace coming into Germany, a circuit that they may have won 22-races at, but not since Fernando Alonso’s 2012 victory.

Foul-play suggestions from Mercedes did come into conversation last week after both Vettel and Raikkonen were involved in first corner collisions with Bottas and Hamilton, however after the dust settled at Silverstone, commonsense prevailed with Hamilton and Wolff realizing that they were simply racing incidents and that this is a title battle which will go to the end of the season.

Ferrari will certainly be the happier of the teams at the half-way stage, after all Vettel is eight points clear in the Driver’s standings, with the team 20-points clear in the Constructors. Despite this Vettel is second favourite at 6/4 to win another title, while the team is 15/8 behind Mercedes to double up.

Red Bull

Red Bull have unquestionably two of the most talented drivers on the grid, both capable of winning the F1 Championship down the line. Verstappen and Ricciardo appear to have a great relationship away from the circuit, however on it they are competitors before teammates.

Make no mistake, as an F1 fan this is exactly what we want to see, raw talent going wheel-to-wheel, however for Red Bull Team Principle Christian Horner, this leads to sleepless nights and dropped points, as we saw in Azerbaijan when the two collided after some of the most scintillating racing seen this season. Both were forced to appologise to the whole Red Bull Team for their antics, a tough stance from the hierarchy, but one that needed to be made.

Ricciardo took the chequered flag in China and Monaco, however three retirements and no other podiums isn’t the sort of consistency the Australian or Red Bull will want for the second half of the season.

Ricciardo has still yet to sign his new contract which will be a distraction for the driver as he looks to decide on his future. McLaren have reportedly offered him a massive £15million-a-year deal, while Ferrari could yet be the team to win over the Aussie in the place of Raikkonen.

Red Bull have also decided to end their 12-year partnership with Renault at the end of the season in favour of Honda. A strange decision when it comes less than a year after McLaren ended their three-year relationship with the engine provider after a disastrous return to F1.

Could this be the deciding factor for Ricciardo?

Verstappen as already mentioned, is another F1 Champion in the making. He is a precocious talent that has been the cause of a few racing incidents and retirements this season, much to the annoyance of others on the grid. Not to mention Ricciardo, who recently came out and suggested Verstappen is hampering his F1 title charge.

That said, a third in Spain and Canada, followed by a second in France and a first in Red Bull’s home race of Austria, suggests he is going nowhere this season and will continue to fight for points no matter what.

What is great about Red Bull, is the way they let their drivers race each other, however you have to ask at what point will this be stopped?

They are currently 88-points off Ferrari in the constructors and unless Ferrari and Mercedes completely capitulate, then back them at 33/1 to win.

As for Ricciardo and Verstappen and their chances of reeling in the driver’s title, no chance is the answer. If you disagree then 200/1 will be a nice payout, although I am leaning more towards a waste of your money!

SPORTSvox.com Prediction

It has been a brilliant championship battle so far between Vettel and Hamilton, both chasing a fifth World Championship, which will draw them level with Juan Manuel Fangio.

Mercedes haven’t had things their own way this season, and I don’t expect this to change. I do agree with Toto Wolff’s comments about Mercedes having a superb package at the halfway point, which is why I can see Hamilton doing the business.

That said, I see no reason why Ferrari can’t go on and win the Constructors Title, however for this to happen, Raikkonen will have to continue has resurgent form, otherwise Mercedes could do the double for a fifth consecutive season.

Hamilton to win the World Championship and Ferrari to claim a first Constructors since 2008.