Wolff: We've exceeded expectations

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff says he feels the team has 'exceeded expectations' as it prepares to kick-start the second half of its F1 campaign in Belgium this weekend.

Thus far in 2013, the team has taken three victories to sit second to Red Bull in the constructors' championship, while Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg sit fourth and sixth in the drivers' title race.

The pair will hope to challenge for honours again at Spa but, while pleased with the season to date, Wolff said it was important not to take anything for granted going into the weekend.

"Our first half of the season exceeded expectations but we will continue to work hard and to improve performance further in the second half," he said. "On paper, Spa is a circuit that should suit our car, and Nico and Lewis will be at their best on a real driver's circuit.

"We have a strong all-round package at the moment and good momentum after our win in Hungary. However, everybody will bring a special low-drag package for this circuit, so we won't know who has found the best compromise before we start running on Friday. We cannot take anything for granted in terms of performance and Spa is always a demanding circuit for reliability.

"The key will be to do our homework well in practice in order to achieve a strong race result for the team."

Rosberg in particular will hope to impress after two tough races prior to the summer break, with the German insisting that Spa was a race he had been looking forward to.

"Spa is most definitely one of the best tracks of the year and all drivers love racing there," he said. "It's a great feeling to drive through the fast corners, and particularly taking Eau Rouge at full throttle. The Belgian Grand Prix is always a special one as it's very close to Germany and so a lot of our home fans will be there for the weekend, along with some of my friends.

"The layout and nature of the track should suit our car, although it does require very low downforce so we will have a different aerodynamic specification to the last race. I can't wait to be back in my Silver Arrow and I hope it will be a successful weekend for us."