Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Championship points: 213 (1st place)
Ahead in qualifying: 7 out of 12
Ahead in the race: 8 out of 12
Best finish: 1st (in five races)
Valtteri Bottas
Championship points: 132 (4th place)
Ahead in qualifying: 5 out of 12
Ahead in the race: 3 out of 12
Best finish: 2nd (in five races)
Analysis: Hamilton on top
Lewis Hamilton is still firmly on top at Mercedes, but in just the way that his battle with Sebastian Vettel has tightened up in the 2018 championship, so has the gap between himself and team mate Valtteri Bottas. Admittedly the Finn has so far been denied a win this season - the tyre blow-out in Baku was particularly cruel - but he's been in the mix on almost every occasion. He simply seems to lack that crucial last killer edge that Hamilton is able to find week-in and week-out that allows the four time world champion to snatch triumph from the jaws of disaster. Even so, Bottas' second year at Brackley has been him grow and develop: there's every chance that come next season, the final piece could slot into place and the tables will be turned on Hamilton. Not this year, though - not yet, at least.
