HOCKENHEIM, Germany – Lewis Hamilton maintains a slight edge going into this weekend's German Grand Prix, which sets off what is likely to be a dramatic second half to the Formula One season with only two points separating the top four drivers in the overall standings.

Coming off his third win of the season, Hamilton is tied with Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen with 48 points, though the McLaren driver leads on a tiebreaker. BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica trails the leaders with 46 points.

Teams are well-prepared for the challenges of 67 laps around the Hockenheim circuit after testing last week. Raikkonen is holding out for high temperatures in hopes of avoiding another unpredictable race. The outlook includes the chance of rain.

“Our car goes really well at high temperatures and also the tire wear is not too high. So I really hope it will be hot,” said Raikkonen, the defending world champion who has finished on the podium only once in his last four races.

With every point counting, the slightest of errors could prove costly down the stretch.

“I've always said that the championship will be very uncertain. I had the possibility to win the last three races, but for one reason or the other things didn't go the right way,” said the 28-year-old Finn. “But that's racing and I'm sure I'll win again soon.”

Though McLaren and Ferrari remain the favorites in Germany, BMW Sauber remains close in contention for a drivers' and constructors' title. The team trails leader Ferrari by 14 points in the constructors' table.

Nick Heidfeld, who clinched his third runner-up finish of the season at the British GP, could give the German fans someone else to cheer for in the absence of Michael Schumacher.

Trailing the leaders by 10 points, Heidfeld is still chasing his first win in 142nd starts.

“The last races have shown that it is probably going in the right direction, having two second places in the last three races,” he said. “I hope it continues like that.

“It was great seeing the team behind me, and it was good finding a couple of solutions and seeing that all the work I've done and we have done as a team started to pay off.”

This is the first return to the forested track outside Frankfurt in two years. Nuerburgring hosted the German GP in 2007.

“It is very special. I have driven here for a long time,” said Toro Rosso driver Sebastian Vettel, who announced Thursday that he would be driving for Red Bull in 2009. “I know the circuit very well, no matter which weather conditions, so I should be prepared.”