Mercedes left 'not satisfied' by Spa and Monza defeats - Wolff

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Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits the Silver Arrows squad was left unhappy by its defeat at the hands of Ferrari at Spa and Monza, despite a good haul of points secured by the team at both venues.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas stood on the podiums in Belgium and in Italy, but with the Scuderia's Charles Leclerc towering over both drivers on each occasion.

"We came back from the summer break knowing that the first two races would be difficult for us," said Wolff ahead of this weekend's return to action for F1 at Singapore.

"We ended up with two double podiums and 67 points which was a strong form of damage limitation and more than we expected.

"However, you could tell in the debriefs that Spa and Monza left us not satisfied and everyone in Brixworth and Brackley is pushing hard for more victories."

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Track layout played a crucial part and into the hands of Ferrari in the last two races, but Singapore could well produce another realignment of the running order up front, although there is no shortage of challenges at Marina Bay.

"The next race takes us to Singapore, a spectacular night race set and a great showcase for our sport," added Wolff.

"The offset schedule and the climate make it a demanding weekend for the team; temperatures in the garage can easily reach 40 degrees Celsius or more with high humidity levels as well.

"It's a tough environment to work in and it's equally challenging for the drivers and the car itself.

"For a long time, Singapore used to be one of our weakest tracks, but we've made some inroads into that and performed well last year.

"However, there are no home runs at a track like Singapore: we need to understand this car and this year's tyres on a very particular track layout and take absolutely nothing for granted in our approach to the weekend.

"We are looking forward to a tough battle under the lights in Singapore."

Mercedes advantage in the Constructors' standings grew to 154 points after Monza while Hamilton comfortable lead over Bottas in the drivers' championship now sits at 63 points with seven rounds to go.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.