Seb’s ready to turn up the heat on leader Hamilton

THE second half of the Formula One season is when Lewis Hamilton usually asserts his authority on the drivers’ championship.

But David Coulthard has warned him that this season he can expect a fierce battle with Sebastian Vettel all the way to the wire.

In each of the three championships Hamilton has won behind the wheel of a Mercedes, he has returned from his summer break and gone on to dominate until the title is clinched.

The notable exception came in 2016, when Nico Rosberg went on a blistering run to overturn his championship lead before hanging on – as his then Mercedes team-mate hit back – to claim his only title.

Vettel starts his quest to eat into Hamilton’s 24-points advantage at the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend.

And Coulthard (inset) does not expect the reigning champ to have things all his own way when battle recommences.

“It is going to be more difficult for Lewis this season,” said Coulthard.

“Ferrari are very competitive and they have missed some opportunities their car could provide. But the ebb and flow will continue between the two drivers.”

Speed

That said, the title battle would be a lot closer had Vettel not been guilty of a series of costly mistakes in the first half of the campaign, the most notable being crashing out of his home grand prix at Hockenheim.

And Coulthard knows the need to make the most of his Ferrari’s speed in the remaining nine races will have been weighing on Vettel’s mind.

“It is not that Lewis has a dominant car,” said the double British Grand Prix winner. “The Ferrari has shown itself