As the dust settles (mostly from Sebastian Vettel's off track excursions) at the German Grand Prix, we are half way through an epic season. With ten down and ten to go it is every pundit's favourite, Alonso, who sits comfortably at the top of the table. But could this resurgence in form for McLaren have tipped the balance in their favour, are we on course for a last minute winner again? Timo Glock, keep an eye on the weather radar for the last lap at Brazil in November mate.

What is the story at half way then? What have we learnt?

Nobody has quite perfected the tyres yet in the dry, wet, hot or cold. There have been 6 different men on pole, 7 different winners and 8 different men have set the fastest lap. You aren't allowed to overtake someone off the track. But you are allowed to overtake somebody off the track if they run you off the track. However, you aren't allowed to run someone off the track. There have been 2 explosions, 2 new winners, 617 laps, only 50% of the pole positions converted to wins, more overtaking manoeuvres than I can be bothered to count, 5 pit-girls soaked in champagne on the podium that I could be bothered to count, 11 different people on the podium and 1 clear leader of the pack.

Who is still in with a shout at the title? First, let's round up how the top 8 got to where they are, then evaluate their chances.

8th place: Romain Grosjean
Points: 61
Gap to leader: 93
% of leader's points: 40%

Romain Grosjean has been the biggest surprise of 2012, for me. But four retirements and the combination of crazy qualifying and a gearbox penalty at Germany have left him with just 61 points. If he had done as well in the five races mentioned as he did in the other five he would have 122 points, and be sitting second in the standings. He had a fair bit of bad luck in those four retirements too, having encountered; Maldonado (bit heavy handed in Melbourne), Schumacher (a couple of racing incidents in Malaysia and Monte Carlo) and the alternator packing in (Valencia).

7th place: Jenson Button
Points: 68
Gap to leader: 86
% of leader's points: 44%

The second biggest surprise of 2012 is that Capt No Grip hasn't been able to get the tyres working! A couple of weeks ago, you wouldn't have confidently bet on Jenson to make Q2 let alone finish in P2. He has had a season of real highs and disastrous lows. Is he back? He would need to win three and take a fourth place without reply from Alonso just to get back on level terms. The updates to the McLaren look like they are working, but can they continue to out-update the others?