• Mercedes

Mercedes wary of rivals' progress

Mercedes has set the pace so far, but how long will it last? © Getty Images

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• Drivers:
• Toto Wolff

• Teams:
• Mercedes

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has warned his team against becoming complacent after its dominant start to the season.

Mercedes has won all three races this year and scored one-twos at the last two grands prix, with Lewis Hamilton leading Nico Rosberg. Even after a late safety car and an intense battle between the two Mercedes in Bahrain, their nearest challenger was 24 seconds adrift, underlining the advantage it has over the rest of the field. But Wolff is wary of the progress being made by some of his rivals.

"Though we have enjoyed a positive start to the season, with time the balance of the field will start to even out and it's a credit to the people within the sport that we can see such significant advancements throughout the grid already," he said. "If we are to sustain any sort of advantage that we may currently have, it's up to us to keep raising the bar in every area.

"The team is now at a level where success is not a bonus but an expectation. After three races we find ourselves in a strong position in both championships but we are under no illusions that our position is a given. We must take the good moments and use them as inspiration in the on-going push to achieve our goals.

"The race in Bahrain was quite simply brilliant to watch: one of the best in recent memory, in fact. This is what we go racing for and it was a strong advert for the sport: in particular under these new regulations. I think that in itself proves that we are moving in the right direction."

Hamilton has his sights firmly set on a hat-trick of victories as he heads to China this weekend.

"I'm getting stronger every time I come to this track and it suits my driving style quite well. The aim, as always, is to win and if I could make it three in a row this weekend that would be incredible."

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