German Grand Prix talking points: Ferrari still searching for first win of 2019

Ahead of Sunday’s German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the 11th round of the 2019 Formula One season, here are some of the main talking points and things to watch for. Mercedes-GP have dominated the season, with nine wins from 10 races so far. That does not tell the whole story, however. Ferrari have been quick, just not consistently so. Ferrari could realistically have at least three wins to their name this year but errors by both Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc - as well as the team - has cost them. Instead we are past the halfway point of the season and they are still searching for a first victory. That could change in Germany. The layout of Hockenheim, with two long straights, as well as several fast turns, should suit Ferrari. It is similar to Canada and Austria, tracks that the Italian team were strong at earlier this year. There is the threat of rain, but if it is dry this should give them a strong chance of a first win in 2019. The Ferraris dominated for two thirds of last year's race and were on course for a one-two finish until the rain came, causing Vettel to crash and teammate Kimi Raikkonen to eventually finish third behind the Mercedes pair of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. Bottas is on for his best season in F1. He has 184 points after 10 races, 80 more than he had at the same stage last season. He has won twice and secured four pole positions, yet he still trails Mercedes teammate Hamilton in the drivers’ standings by 39 points. Only one driver, Fernando Alonso in 2012, has led the championship by such a margin and not gone on to be crowned world champion at the end of the season. That gives you a hint at the size of the task Bottas faces. He is driving as well as he ever has but it has not been enough as Hamilton is performing equally well as he aims for his sixth divers' title. Bottas cannot afford for Hamilton to stretch that advantage further in Germany. He has often been a match for his teammate in qualifying but fails to make it count in the race - the British Grand Prix two weeks ago the latest example - although an ill-timed safety car period did hurt his chances there at Silverstone. Since winning in Azerbaijan in April, Bottas has finished ahead of Hamilton only once, in Austria, and only then after the Briton damaged his front wing and needed a long pit stop. Bottas was strong in Germany last year, even in the wet, and was denied the chance to attack Hamilton in the closing stages by team orders. A similar effort is needed on Sunday. Bottas is giving it his all but he can not afford to keep finishing behind Hamilton if he hopes to become Finland's first F1 champion in 12 years. There was a time when victory at Hockenheim was almost a given for McLaren. Ayrton Senna triumphed three times in a row between 1988 and 1990 when McLaren were in their pomp. Expectations are rather different now for the the British team. They have not won a race since November 2012 and have endured a number of years struggling at the back of the grid. But this has been a hugely encouraging year so far and the MCL34 chassis is been the best car the team have produced for a long time. Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris have both made full use of it and their haul of 60 constructors' points is only two less then they managed in the whole of 2018. The high-speed Hockenheim track should give Sainz and Norris the chance to fight for points in the top 10 again. McLaren have not had a driver on the podium since Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button were second and third in the 2014 Australian Grand Prix, but Sainz and Norris are both driving well enough that, should the weather play its part, they could have a chance to fight at the front.

German Grand Prix talking points: Ferrari still searching for first win of 2019

It's now or never for Valtteri Bottas if he wants to challenge Mercedes teammate for the drivers' title