Ferrari reveal big advantage over Mercedes in F1 title race

Maurizio Arrivabene believes Mercedes' unfamiliarity with their current standing as arguably the second-best team in Formula 1 will play into Ferrari's hands in the closing stages of 2018's thrilling title battle. Lewis Hamilton heads Sebastian Vettel by 17 points in the drivers' championship, but the German dominated his rival in Belgium last weekend.

Mercedes also lead Ferrari by 15 points in the constructors' standings, aided by Kimi Raikkonen's DNF at Spa-Francorchamps, but the Scuderia have outperformed the Silver Arrows in dry conditions at most races before the summer break - which continued in Belgium.

A trip to the 'Temple of Speed', Monza, follows this weekend at the Italian Grand Prix, where Ferrari are favourites as they seek a first home win since 2010.

Ferrari team principal Arrivabene has helped lead the team's revival in recent years and he says that has prepared them to bloody Mercedes' nose in the closing months of the season.

"They are not used to it," he said at F1's live event in Milan. "In the last few years we were with our heads held low, we took punches right and left, but we always got up.

"We're used to it. They are not, so the speech made to the boys is simple: let's keep them under pressure.

"Sooner or later, when we reach them [Mercedes], we are the aggressive ones who have taken them [the punches] and we know how bad it is. Now it's time to give them."

Vettel has lost the championship lead to Hamilton as a result of mistakes in Azerbaijan, France and Germany already this year and Arrivabene says the fine win in Belgium will not go to the team's heads.

"It's a recovery but we're still behind," he said. "We have to put this in our heads that if you win a race, you have not won the championship, and that is our goal.

"We must put pressure on Mercedes, who are not used to it."