With the 2014 season just over the halfway point, the pressure is being cranked up on the drivers, and nowhere more intensely than at Mercedes. The team sits comfortably ahead of the rest in the Constructors Championship but despite that the so called ‘silly season’ has begun, with rumours flying around regarding the potential signing of Sebastian Vettel in 2016.

Neither Lewis Hamilton nor Nico Rosberg deserves to be ousted by the four time champion on the evidence of this season alone. Both have enjoyed a friendly rivalry and a competitive car, ensuring a Mercedes 1-2 at the top of the table in favour of the German as it stands. But there is no doubting a move for Vettel would represent a major coup for a Mercedes team who have only emerged as serious contenders this season.

Mercedes could well be tempted to plump for a fully German team the year after next, so it is down to Lewis Hamilton to ensure he remains fully in the team’s plans. The Stevenage born racer has plenty of time to catch his teammate up, with only a 14 point deficit to make up with nine races to go, but the sooner he can make progress with the task the better.

That task starts this weekend in Hungary, where Hamilton outpaced his teammate in both of yesterday’s practice sessions. The Englishman has won at the Hungaroring on four previous occasions, where he has excelled time and again on the twisty circuit, but he will need to contend with potentially troublesome temperatures for the car’s tyres.

Should Hamilton emerge victorious this weekend then the title push will be his main focus, but with the Vettel rumours hardly likely to dampen any time soon he may face an ever growing concern that his position at Mercedes is under threat. A championship title at the end of the year might just alleviate those fears.

 

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Image courtesy of Metro