It might be tempting to think that, with both the constructors championship and Lewis Hamilton's fourth world crown now secure, the pressure is off the Mercedes Formula One team for the two remaining races of 2017, being this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix then the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
But that couldn't be further from the truth as team boss Toto Wolff explains…
“Inside the team, we are looking at the next two race weekends as the first two Grands Prix of 2018. We have two races that we are determined to win in order to take that positive momentum into the winter. There will be no backing off just because the championship business is now done,” he explains.
“In fact, these next two races speak to every principle that makes us what we are. We aspire to excellence in everything we do, from the first lap of the winter shakedown in Silverstone to the final lap of the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. And every time we race, we race to win. That is the mind set we take to Sao Paulo.”
“Lewis is operating at the peak of his powers right now, and will be determined to add another victory to last year's success; Valtteri made a promising step forward in Mexico and will aim to build from this at Interlagos. "
"As recent rounds have shown, winning Grands Prix is never easy. Red Bull have taken two victories in the past four races and, although we have claimed the other two, Ferrari remain formidable opponents. With the championship now settled, the battle for 2018 has already begun.”
