Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has stressed that the marque cannot “take anything for granted” in spite of its healthy advantage in both championship battles.
Mercedes enters the final third of the campaign 154 points clear of Ferrari in the Constructors’ Championship, while in the Drivers’ battle Lewis Hamilton is 99 ahead of the highest-placed non-Mercedes driver.
Mercedes won the opening eight races of the campaign but since then has added just two more wins, with Red Bull and Ferrari both emerging victorious on two occasions each.
“The intensity is still on 2019 as there are seven races to go,” said Wolff.
“We have a solid gap in both championships but obviously a streak of one or two really bad weekends can make it swing in the other direction so we have got to keep pushing so that is what we will do.
“We can’t take anything for granted. We knew Spa and Monza would be difficult for us and this is what happened.
“Singapore on paper looks much better for us and the Red Bulls. I have no doubt that Ferrari will have also learned in the meantime and will have a better package there, better than Hungary.”
Mercedes nonetheless took a double podium finish in both Belgium and Italy as it profited from Sebastian Vettel’s ongoing difficult run of form.
Vettel struggled for tyre wear in Belgium as he slipped to fourth, a position he held early on in Italy until he spun, dropping down the order.
Wolff has nonetheless warned Vettel’s critics that they cannot dismiss the Ferrari driver as a threat.
“I am just saying don’t write him off as he is a four-time World Champion and the difference between the great and the good is the great ones can get back up again,” said Wolff.
“I have no doubt that he can do that. He had a spell of bad races and now it will be about the ability to get himself back to where he deserves to be.”
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