Last time out Lewis Hamilton was denied victory on home soil by title rival Sebastian Vettel, this time the World Champion will be looking to reverse at the German Grand Prix.

There was no German GP in 2017, but it is back on the calendar in 2018 with the Hockenheimring staging the half-way mark of the season.

Vettel, who now has an eight point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, is going in search of only his second home win, and his first at Hockenheim with his victory in 2013 coming at the Nurburgring.

And the German is keen to win on a track he holds close to his heart.

“I saw my first Formula One race here in 2000, and since there are always friends and family here, Hockenheim is something very special for me,” Vettel said.

“Literally we are half an hour away from where I was born and grew up, so this area means a lot to me and it would be great to have a good weekend.

“If the chance comes to win of course I want to, and if that helps the grand prix that would be a bonus. It would be great to come back next year or the year after.”

? | Quick guide to Hockenheim with Sebastian Vettel ?#GermanGP ?? #Seb5 pic.twitter.com/aSvPdAQMxc

— Sebastian Vettel #5 (@sebvettelnews) July 17, 2018

Whilst also being home for Vettel, it is also Mercedes’ home GP and they are desperate to get back to winning ways.

“Going to Hockenheim always feels like coming home; it’s only about a 90-minute drive from the Daimler headquarters in Stuttgart,” Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said.

“We will fight hard to not only put on a good show for our friends and fans in Hockenheim but also get the result that they will be hoping for.”

Hamilton, fresh from signing a new two-year deal with Mercedes, is looking for his fourth German GP win, and actually back-to-back wins at Hockenheim, as he was the last winner here in 2016.

And the British star is hopeful that Mercedes and him can make a real run at Vettel and Ferrari in the coming months.

“It’s great that it’s this close in F1. It’s great for the sport the way it is, and we need more championships like this,” he said.

“I have never been so confident and empowered by my team as I am right now. It’s exciting how things will unfold over the next few months.”