F1 summer break report: Lewis Hamilton vs. Sebastian Vettel title race is on

Jul 30, 2018

How it stands after 12 races and the latest F1 driver contract news

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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in the F1 standings

As Formula 1 goes into its summer break the race for this year’s world title is nicely poised with 24 points separating championship leader Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel in second place.

Mercedes driver Hamilton, the reigning F1 champion, is top of the drivers’ standings. He has five wins in 12 grands prix so far this season while Ferrari’s Vettel has four GP wins to his name in 2018.

Hamilton won yesterday’s Hungarian GP. After his victory at the Hungaroring, he vowed to “turn up the heat” when F1 returns in Belgium next month.

The British driver told the BBC: “The second half of the season is always intense but it is usually when it gets a bit better on our side. So we will go away and prepare and make sure we come back stronger.

“We have won five races, we are ahead of the Ferraris, and to come away with two wins [in a row] is a great show of strength in depth.”

Remaining at the top of his game is vital. “We need to apply more pressure in the second half,” he said. “This is where we need to turn up the heat.”

Four-time world champion Vettel was in equally confident mood despite Hamilton building a 24-point lead. The German told Sky Sports: “This year has shown so far that our car is more efficient, our car is stronger and still has a lot of potential to unleash. So I’m quite confident with what’s sitting in the pipeline that we can improve.”

There are nine races – including the Belgium GP on 26 August – in a hectic three months for the sport. The season then concludes in Abu Dhabi on 25 November.

Could we see another F1 “duel in the desert” for the title?

Wolff: Mercedes are the challengers

They may have the lead in the drivers’ and constructors’ championships but Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes Ferrari have set the 2018 benchmark.

While there’s only a ten-point difference in the constructors’ standings – Mercedes are on 345 points compared to Ferrari’s 335 – Wolff says the rest of the F1 teams are playing catch-up to the engine power of the Italians.

Wolff told Sky Sports: “We have been benefitting for many years with engine power, but Ferrari has done a job now that makes everybody need to catch up.

“I believe it’s nice to be in a situation where we’re the challenger. Since 2013 we haven’t been the challenger and it’s difficult to set the benchmark. You’re basically running with a cross on your back.

“Now we know where the level of performance is with the Ferraris, and that is something that we are very eager and very motivated to achieve. We are not going to rest until we have done that.”

Future of Force India

The Force India team has gone into administration because of its “critical financial position”, driver Sergio Perez revealed in a statement on Twitter.

Perez said that if the administration option had not been taken the 400-strong staff would have lost their jobs. A buyer will now need to be found. Sky Sports reports that five parties are potentially interested.

2019 line-ups: who will drive where next year?

Earlier this month it was confirmed that Lewis Hamilton had signed a new contract with Mercedes worth £40m-a-year. While the world champion is set for the next couple of years, the same can’t be said for a number of drivers in F1.

Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo is yet to sign a new deal with Red Bull and the contract saga has now continued into the summer break. The Hungarian Grand Prix was reportedly Red Bull’s “unofficial deadline” for the Australian to sign, Fox Sports reports, but Ricciardo and team boss Christian Horner say a decision should be made during the break.

Ricciardo’s decision will have an impact on Carlos Sainz’s F1 future. Last week Sainz, who is on loan from Red Bull to Renault, said that he’s waiting to see where Ricciardo is driving next season before confirming his own plans.

Sainz’s place at Renault could go to Esteban Ocon next year. Renault has confirmed talks have taken place with Ocon to partner Nico Hulkenberg next season. An announcement could be made in Belgium next month.

Lance Stroll is linked with a move to Force India next year, Autosport reports. The Canadian has admitted his F1 future may not be with strugglers Williams, who have won only four points so far this season.

And what about Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen? Alonso has been linked with a move to IndyCar but McLaren want him to continue in F1, says Autoweek.com. Raikkonen’s future is an “annual topic” in F1, says Crash.net. He has been linked with moves to McLaren and Sauber, but could also keep his drive at Ferrari.

“F1’s silly season has well and truly begun,” says Sky Sports.