Mercedes tip stronger Ferrari fight in 2019

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the Silver Arrows are anticipating an even tougher test from Ferrari in 2019, having wrapped up a fifth consecutive drivers' and constructors' championship double this year, with Lewis Hamilton besting Sebastian Vettel in the individual scrap.

Hamilton's victory in Brazil last time out helped Mercedes wrap up team honour, with the Briton having confirmed his fifth world title in Mexico the race prior.

It leaves the V6 Hybrid era's dominant team to celebrate their triumph in this week's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But it seems Wolff will not be celebrating for long, having tipped the Scuderia to continue to improve on a season in which Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen have often had a pace advantage over Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, only to be let down by errors on the track and pit wall.

"It's quite a complex psychological situation," Wolff said.

"The risk is you become complacent with winning - but I think this team has overcome this obstacle.

"But the job is going to get more difficult every year. We are setting the benchmark and our competition will get more energised and more motivated by us.

"You have to acknowledge the strength of the other teams, and acknowledge that you could lose next year's championship and respect what they might achieve.

"All points start at zero next year, we'll have forgotten about the five and we'll fight hard to be in contention for the sixth. Whether we achieve it or not, we will see next year."

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