Wolff hails 'gloves-off' battle between Mercedes and Ferrari

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has described the constructors' championship battle between the Silver Arrows and Ferrari this season as '"gloves-off" such as the ferocity of the competition in both titles races, and insists the constructors' championship is not done yet despite his team's lead.

Lewis Hamilton won the drivers' title on Sunday at the Mexican Grand Prix after claiming enough points to put him adrift of Sebastian Vettel second in the rankings.

Mercedes are poised to win the constructors', too, as they lead Ferrari by 55 points with two races remaining in Brazil and Abu Dhabi. After winning the championship in 2016 comfortably, he believes the competition on this occasion has been much more fierce.

"We have enjoyed the competition, and I also enjoy not being sure whether it is good enough what we are doing. The setbacks make the good days even sweeter," the Mercedes boss said.

"We won 19 out of the 21 races in 2016. That was nice and enjoyable, less stressful," he added"But there is also the risk of complacency setting in.

"Then the regulations changed, and that really motivated us to be the first team to win a championship after a rule change, and we did it. And this year was a gloves-off fight all year."

An incredible moment for @LewisHamilton and, as Dr. Dieter Zetsche says, a wonderful one to witness ????#HiFive #F1 #MexicoGP #F1ESTA pic.twitter.com/9GzoeFyNfh — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 30 October 2018

Wolff is not taking anything for granted, however, and is adamant that the title is not guaranteed despite their relatively healthy lead.

"The job is not done yet," insists the Austrian. "Obviously we are very happy about this fifth Drivers' Championship because that is the most visible and most important Championship.

"But there is a Constructors' Championship still out there that we want to secure and win, and it is not easy," he adds, leaving out the minor detail that it is this championship that decides prize money."

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