NUERBURGRING, Germany marks the half way point of this year’s Formula 1 World Championship. And while the headlines during the three-week season break have mostly been about the controversy with Max Mosley and Bernie Ecclestone saying some rather strange stuff, let’s try and concentrate about the racing for now.

It will be fascinating to see whether Red Bull can continue their upswing in form against the Brawns of Jenson Button and Ruben Barrichello. The British GP and the cold conditions at the last race did favour Red Bull.

They were able to warm their tyres up better than the Brawns and that, combined with the quick corners of Silverstone, helped them to dominate. Both teams are bringing on updates on a race-by-race basis and the medium to slow speed corners should help the Brawns a bit more.

But I think the Red Bulls found a massive step forward at the last race that could keep them in front here in Nuerburgring. Estimates that they found half a second from the penultimate race at Turkey to the British Grand Prix are fairly accurate in my view and should be enough to keep them in front for this weekend’s GP.

It is close enough between the two teams though, that weather could play a part. If we see warm conditions in the thirties, expect Brawn GP to be quick enough to win. If it’s chilly, expect Red Bull to dominate again. Now what about the others?

Kimi Raikkonen has said that for Ferrari, victory is out of reach. I tend to agree with his view but expect them to be fighting for points behind the two teams leading the championship. It will be a tight fight for those points as Toyota and Williams are right with Ferrari. A bit behind this group (and when I say a “bit” I mean a couple of tenths a second a lap) are Renault, BMW, McLaren and Force India (yes you heard me, Force India).

Toro Rosso should be further up but the competitiveness of this year’s field means that not extracting 100 per cent from your package leaves you at the back. What about the championship?

Well, Jenson Button is driving so well that I still cannot see him losing the drivers’ championship even if Red Bull dominate for the second half of the season.

But the constructors championship is still open and if Red Bull have a couple more races like the last one, it will be pretty even. As for Fota and the FIA?

Well lots of mud has been slung but it’s all just a lot of posturing and I don’t think anything really serious from either side will come up until we get closer to October when Max Mosley the FIA president, is “supposed” to resign. Fota want Max out because they do not feel he has been fair across all the teams. The thing is, I have not seen any series on such a large scale like F1 work when it’s a democracy. Let’s wait and see.

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