Toto Wolff highlights false Ferrari expectation in pointed warning

Toto Wolff anticipated Ferrari will be a "strong competitor" for the rest of the F1 season after the Scuderia defied even its own expectations at the British Grand Prix.

Heading into the round at Silverstone, it was predicted that the SF-26 would struggle against Mercedes due to the power-sensitive and energy-starved nature of the circuit, which in theory plays into the hands of the W17.

However, the superior aerodynamics of the Prancing Horse meant it was more energy efficient around the high-speed track, reducing the natural battery management deficit that is inherent between the corresponding power units.

It was a surprise to many, and Wolff now believes it is on his team to respond, especially with the upcoming Belgian Grand Prix held at another energy-poor track, Spa-Francorchamps.

"We need to look at ourselves," the 54-year-old admitted to media, including RacingNews365.

"They [Ferrari] said before the weekend that they're going to be lacking energy over over this track; they haven't.

Kimi Antonelli's mechanical problem at Silverstone left Charles Leclerc unopposed as he eased to victory in the grand prix, following Lewis Hamilton's formidable one-lap pace that saw him snatch pole for the sprint.

Now, with nine rounds completed, Ferrari trails the Silver Arrows by 78 points in the constructors' championship hunt.

The Italian team has closed the performance gap to the eight-time constructors' champions, too, in recent rounds through an onslaught of upgrades, which has caught the attention of the paddock, including Wolff.

After the Austrian Grand Prix, the Mercedes boss questioned how the Maranello-based squad was able to maintain its seemingly unrelenting development path.

Those remarks caught the ire of Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, and the friends enjoyed a war of words, albeit well-mannered, during the British Grand Prix weekend.

However, after the 52-lap race at Silverstone, Wolff was quick to point out that the sparring match between their two teams looks set to continue as the campaign unfolds.

The Austrian added: "They were a strong competitor, and this is to be expected now for the rest of the season."