Wolff: Ferrari switched very early to focus on 2017

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff is convinced that Ferrari have long ago switched their development focus to 20117, and is wary of the Italian team's potential to become a serious challenger to the dominance of the Silver Arrows.

Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Wolff said," I don't think you can write Ferrari off, they have clearly had a tough time most recently. I think [Ferrari] switched off very early to focus on 2017."

"Never underestimate a team with so much resources and so much passion," warned Wolff.

This might well explain the recent below par performance by the Maranello outfit. Wolff would relish a battle with the sport's most popular team and believes close competition is essential for the sport at the highest level.

"We need to be fair sportsmen and Formula 1 lives because of the great battles between drivers and teams. Ferrari is a great brand with capable people and it would have been good fun to fight it out on track."

"For whatever reason they have not been able in the most recent races to reach the levels they expected to perform and we expect to perform, but I can't really look into it in detail and I don't know the reasons.""

"For me, a battle with Ferrari would be great for F1 and, even if this sounds a little bit absurd, I was really looking forward to it and I hope they find their strength again and we fight it out on track," added Wolff.