The 2016 season of the Formula 1 will kick start is less than a month's time and Mercedes boss Paddy Lowe has already declared Ferrari are the biggest threat to his team this year.
Last season, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton won the driver's championship while the British driver and Nico Rosberg collectively helped them win the constructors championship. Mercedes and Ferrari have already launched their cars - W07 and SF16-H respectively.
Mercedes and Hamilton have won it for two years in a row after breaking Sebastian Vettel's dominance for four years, when he was with Red Bull. The German driver is now part of Ferrari team, along with Kimi Raikkonen.
"We see Ferrari as our main threat and it remains to be seen how we position ourselves in the weeks to come," Lowe told Sky Sports.
"Ferrari are a very strong competitor and one we worry about. It keeps us motivated to keep us pushing all the time."
Hamilton's teammate Rosberg has echoed comments made by Lowe regarding the challenge they are expecting from Ferrari. He admitted that Mercedes always take their opposition veyr seriously as they look for another successful season in Formula 1.
"We take our opposition very seriously - especially Ferrari. For sure, they are going to be a big threat so we need to keep pushing. Who knows where we are going to be first race?" Rosberg explained.
The first race of the 2016 season will take place in Australia on March 20. The two Mercedes and Ferrari drivers will be going head-to-head for the driver's championship from the first race.
