Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMercedes

2016 'biggest test yet' for Mercedes

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says 2016 will be the "biggest test yet" for the team as Ferrari closes in.

Following a dominant 2014 season, Mercedes has impressively exceeded last year's points total this season and secured the constructors' championship in Russia before Lewis Hamilton took the drivers' title in the United States. Off the back of the team's 11th one-two of the season in Brazil, Wolff says Abu Dhabi provides the chance for Mercedes to enjoy its success as he expects a much tougher time in 2016.

"It was very satisfying to leave Brazil with another top result after a race that was far less straightforward than it might have looked," Wolff said. "We now go to Abu Dhabi with the best possible Championship positions secured and a chance to reflect on an incredible year.

"We can all be extremely proud of what we have achieved in 2015. To raise the bar from 2014 was always going to be a huge challenge - but everybody at Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart has taken on that challenge exceptionally well.

"While we celebrate a job well done this time around, however, the next challenge will be upon us before we know it. 2016 will undoubtedly provide our biggest test yet as a group. We will not be backing off - and an entertaining battle at the front between our boys for one last time in 2015 will be the ideal way to show that."

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.