Toto Wolff says Mercedes are "ready for an epic battle" over the remaining eight grands prix as they look to beat Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel to the world championships.

Lewis Hamilton cut Vettel's lead at the top of the Drivers' Championship to just seven points on Sunday with victory at the Belgian GP following a high-class, race-long battle.

But while Mercedes - who hold a 44-point lead in the Constructors' Championship - had been expected to dominate at Spa, Ferrari remained within touching distance of the Silver Arrows all weekend.

It left Vettel declaring there are "no circuits [Ferrari] should fear going to from now" and Wolff stated Mercedes will need to take every available opportunity to come out on top.

"There will be no races where it is a walk in the park and we are ready for an epic battle all the way to the finish line in Abu Dhabi," the Mercedes boss said ahead of the Italian GP.

Watch close racing between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel as they restart after a safety car in the Belgian GP Watch close racing between Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel as they restart after a safety car in the Belgian GP

"We said before Spa that it's dangerous to make assumptions this year and the race weekend demonstrated why that's the case. It was a dog fight with Ferrari and, although we came out on top, we did so by a small margin only.

"We can expect the same kind of close battle at every race this year.

"In the coming weeks, we must grasp every opportunity, accept good fortune with humility, misfortune with resolution and show our resilience on the days when our rivals are stronger.

"The pendulum will swing again a number of times before Abu Dhabi, the season so far has shown us this much. Our focus is simply on extracting every possible point from each race in succession, beginning this weekend in Monza."

'Mercedes' mission clear'

Ferrari's performance in Belgium left both Hamilton and Vettel declaring the SF70H was the better overall race car, with the Briton largely putting his victory down to having track position after taking pole.

He stated it had taken "everything out of him" to maintain the lead while the increased straight-line speed from Mercedes' latest engine upgrade also helped rebuff Vettel's charge.

Lewis: Ferrari have best car

But the Briton said his car needed more improvements if he is to claim a fourth title and Wolff says Mercedes will not let up in the development of their W08.

Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts on Sunday's action packed Belgian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton was victorious in his 200th GP Ted Kravitz gives his thoughts on Sunday's action packed Belgian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton was victorious in his 200th GP

"This is often the time of year when thoughts turn to the following season. But our mission is clear: to win before and after a major regulation change," Wolff continued.

"Nobody said it would be easy and it is stretching our limits in every direction. We are still pushing hard with our development to squeeze every last bit of performance from the W08."

Mercedes have reigned supreme at Monza over the past three years, finishing at least 20 seconds clear of the rest of the field but Wolff is expecting a much sterner test from Ferrari this weekend.

"Monza is a circuit that has been good to us in recent years. It rewards low drag and peak power, both of which are among the strengths of our package; but braking stability and low-speed grip are also crucial through the chicanes, and these are areas where Ferrari has held an advantage.

"The team that finds the best overall compromise will come out on top."

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