Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is expecting the 2018 Formula One season to be a tense three-way battle between his team, Ferrari and Red Bull.
Pre-season testing suggested F1's top three are closely matched on raw pace, although Mercedes is still expected to be the car to beat at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. Mercedes beat Ferrari to the 2017 world championship and Wolff is certain Red Bull will be involved in the battle this year.
"We're excited to go racing again," Wolff said. "Everything we've done over the past months were just the first steps on the road to start our 2018 campaign - from the first build of the car to the first fire-up, from the launch in Silverstone to testing in Barcelona.