Motorsport wrap: F1 mid-season review

Sebastian Vettel: why winning is all in the mind

Hamilton also has four wins, but a lack of consistency has cost him in the points race. He struggled to seventh in Monaco after problems in qualifying and lost a likely win in Azerbaijan after being forced to pit to fix a loose headrest, eventually finishing fifth.

Hamilton has also faced a tougher challenge from inside his own team than Vettel. Bottas, who was drafted in to replace retired 2016 champion Nico Rosberg, has settled into the team quickly and already has two wins. He has also matched or outpaced Hamilton in a number of races. By contrast, Ferrari is firmly focused on Vettel, with Kimi Räikkönen playing a solid supporting role.

Bottas certainly isn’t out of the title race, sitting 19 points behind Hamilton. While the relationship between the two has shown little of the tension that existed between Hamilton and Rosberg – which occasionally boiled over into on-track clashes – that dual attack could cost the team if they keep taking points from each other.

Interview: Bottas on life as Hamilton's teammate

It’s all set for a fascinating – and dramatic – title battle, especially with tensions rising between Hamilton and Vettel. The most obvious incident came in Azerbaijan when Vettel, who felt Hamilton brake-tested him during a safety car period, pulled alongside his rival to protest and ended up driving into Hamilton’s car.  

The chasing pack: Red Bull closing the gap

The season hasn’t been all about Mercedes and Ferrari. After early struggles, an upgrade package has helped boost Red Bull's fortunes, with drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen capable of challenging the top two teams on occasion. In particular, Ricciardo capitalised on Hamilton and Vettel’s issues to take an opportune victory in Azerbaijan.

The teenage Verstappen’s frustration with the team is beginning to show after a series of mechanical retirements, and matters weren’t helped when he crashed into Ricciardo in Hungary. With Ferrari believed to be chasing Verstappen’s services for 2018, the Dutch driver’s future will be a storyline to watch.

Interview: Max Verstappen - meeting F1's most exciting young talent

Behind Red Bull, Force India is a solid fourth in the Constructors’ Championship ahead of Williams – despite drivers Sergio Pérez and Esteban Ocon engaging in a series of on-track battles and clashes.