Mercedes sit fourth in the constructors' championship and are 116 points behind third-placed Ferrari.
Toto Wolff has revealed a crucial advantage for Mercedes in not being in the championship fight this season.
Mercedes sit fourth in the constructors' championship and are well adrift of Ferrari in third. The Maranello-based team boast a 116-point advantage over the Silver Arrows.
Fourth looks set to be where the Brackley-based team will finish in the standings this year, despite three recent victories ahead of the summer break.
Since the end of the summer break, Mercedes has struggled to compete with McLaren and Ferrari.
George Russell did finish third in Azerbaijan last weekend, although this was inherited after Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez crashed on the penultimate lap.
The Mercedes team principal recognises the outfit needs to keep pushing, not only to improve the current campaign but also with a look ahead to next year.
"We cannot rest on our laurels after three victories before the summer break," Wolff told OE24.
"There are still seven races to go. We also want to set the direction for the development of the new car, because our performance next year will depend on it.
"And it's not like we're shouting: Hurrah, hurrah! In the constructors' championship we are only fourth with little hope of third place. But that can also bring advantages."
