Toto Wolff expects ‘ping-pong battle’ with Ferrari in 2017

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says he is expecting the team to have a “ping-pong battle” with Ferrari throughout the 2017 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel secured victory in Australia, but Mercedes bounced back in China with Lewis Hamilton taking the win.

The Mercedes W08 and Ferrari SF70H have looked closely matched on track so far and Wolff is anticipating an intense battle this year.

Vettel and Hamilton head into this weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix level on points in the drivers’ standings.

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“China was a great way to hit back in the battle with Ferrari,” Wolff said. “We are very close on pace and I expect a bit of a ping-pong battle through the season, depending on the track.

“That's exciting for everyone.

 “What we have in 2017 is the perfect situation for the fans and also for us as a team. We are all racers and we are all properly excited for this fight.

 “Two races into the season and now it is 1:1 between Mercedes and Ferrari. And after racing on a very different circuit, in very different conditions, it's clear that we are very closely matched – and that small margins will make the difference.

 “Our one point lead in the constructors' championship is anything but a comfortable margin.

“We need to – and we will – keep working with everything we have got to develop our car, correct our errors and continue improving.

“Our mindset is that of the underdog – not the champion. And the fight has just begun.”