NUERBURGRING, Germany (AP) -- In the first Formula One race in Germany in the post-Michael Schumacher era, his former team will be hoping to pick up where he left off last year.

Schumacher, who won a record seven championships, retired at the end of the season. One of his wins in his final season for Ferrari came at Nuerburgring.

His successor at Ferrari, Kimi Raikkonen, won the last two races, in France and Britain, after taking the opening race in Australia.

But Ferrari struggled in between, while McLaren's Lewis Hamilton consistently collected points and won two races, in Canada and the United States.

Raikkonen has more wins this year, yet he still trails Hamilton by a fat margin of 18 points with less than half of the season remaining.

The McLaren rookie has finished in the top three in all nine races this year. He is 12 points ahead of two-time defending champion and teammate Fernando Alonso.

Heading into the 10th race of the season, the European Grand Prix in Germany, Raikkonen will be hoping to retain his momentum.

With eight races remaining on the schedule, Raikkonen and Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa, who is fourth in drivers' standings, need to keep the pressure on McLaren if they are to challenge for the driver and constructor championships.

Hamilton has 70 points, Alonso 58, Raikkonen 52 and Massa 51. A win is worth 10 points.

The two McLaren drivers are the only ones who have collected points in every race so far.

"Despite having a mixed weekend at Silverstone, we still came away from the track with a good haul of points and I am now really looking forward to getting back to the Nuerburgring," Hamilton said Thursday.

"I had a great weekend there last year, taking my first double win of the year and I enjoy driving the track," said the Briton, who drove on the minor circuit last year.

McLaren and Ferrari both tested at the Spa circuit in Belgium ahead of this weekend's race.

"We had a positive test at Spa this week, with a lot of dedication from everyone within the team," Alonso said. "This season is very competitive and we all have to push hard to find more performance from every part of the car."

As drivers of cars powered by Mercedes engines, both Hamilton and Alonso can hope for support from the crowd, now that Michael Schumacher is out of the picture.

His brother, Ralf, has had a poor season with Toyota.

The best home driver is Nick Heidfeld of BMW-Sauber, who is fifth in the drivers' standings.

Ferrari could benefit off the track if McLaren is found guilty of "fraudulent conduct" at next week's FIA hearing into how confidential data belonging to Ferrari ended up with suspended McLaren chief designer Mike Coughlan, and if other team officials were aware of their contents.

McLaren could have points deducted, be banned from a number of races, or even thrown out of the championship if the team is found guilty of breaking FIA rules.

"Although I've not really thought about it, and it's not something I really need to focus on, I'm very confident its going to go well, so it is not really playing on my mind at all," Hamilton said.

Hamilton's main worry is to shake off an illness.

"I've just caught a bit of flu, but it's OK. I'm really up for it," he said. "I don't think it's going to be a problem. The worst of it was earlier on in the week."