Not content with his endless claims that his team's dominance is under threat, having already wrapped up both of this year's titles, and won 80% of the races held under the current formula, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is already fretting about next year.

"It might be tempting to think that, with both championships now secure, the pressure is off for the two remaining races of 2017," says the Austrian as he looks ahead to the penultimate race of the season in Brazil. "But that couldn't be further from the truth.

"Inside the team, we are looking at the next two race weekends as the first two Grands Prix of 2018," he continues. "We have two races that we are determined to win in order to take that positive momentum into the winter. There will be no backing off just because the championship business is now done.

"In fact, these next two races speak to every principle that makes us what we are. We aspire to excellence in everything we do, from the first lap of the winter shakedown in Silverstone to the final lap of the post-season test in Abu Dhabi. And every time we race, we race to win. That is the mind set we take to Sao Paulo.

"Lewis is operating at the peak of his powers right now, and will be determined to add another victory to last year's success; Valtteri made a promising step forward in Mexico and will aim to build from this at Interlagos.

"As recent rounds have shown, winning Grands Prix is never easy. Red Bull have taken two victories in the past four races and, although we have claimed the other two, Ferrari remain formidable opponents. With the championship now settled, the battle for 2018 has already begun."