Wolff: I'm sceptical about Mercedes' speed

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has attempted to avoid complacency in his car following the successful end-of-season tests carried out in Abu Dhabi, stressing that there are a number of factors at play and he wants to remain 'sceptical' as their 2018 plans continue.

After comfortably winning the constructors championship once again and with Lewis Hamilton claiming the driver's title for the fourth time, the team sent a message to their competition after an enviable post-season test that could be a sign of things to come.

Based on that performance it appears that Mercedes could be even faster and more difficult to beat next year, but Wolff has been keen to express caution, and is well aware there is plenty more testing to come.

He said: "You have to be careful in interpreting the pace. This has been the start of the 2018 season, I’m not sure we’ve seen everything on the cars that will be on the cars next year.

“So far, I just don’t feel like we should be patting ourselves on the shoulder on how great we were in the last race. I’d rather stay sceptical, leaving no stone unturned and optimising the deficits of the car."

Wolff then referred to the car as a 'diva', adding that he wanted to retain some of those qualities while also taming some of the weaker elements in the car to bring it into shape in the most optimum way possible .

“But at the end of the day it was the quickest car, it was a diva. We’d like to keep the diva but get rid of her vicious character.”

Lewis Hamilton will once again be paired with Valtteri Bottas for the 2018 as Mercedes look to stay ahead of closest contenders Ferrari and Red Bull once more.