MERCEDES motorsport head Toto Wolff said yesterday that he sees no reason to go cap in hand to company bosses for money to fend off Ferrari.

The Italian marque topped the podium for the first time in nearly two years in Malaysia, forcing Mercedes men Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg into second and third.

The team’s win, courtesy of Sebastian Vettel, was a blast of cold air for Mercedes, who were coming hot off a stunning success last season and a crushing opener in Australia.

That led to speculation Wolff was prepared to ask for more funds from the Mercedes board to ensure his team stayed ahead of the pack.

“We have everything we need,” Wolff said. “We feel confident in the resources we have, the staff we have, and that we are well-placed.

“We just need to stay calm, continue to develop and put the right things on the car.

“Maybe we put some things earlier on the car than planned, but there is no reason to panic.

“We are back into a regular racing season where you have more than just one contender, and more than one-twos every single weekend. It’s back to normal business.”

Wolff insists his team has left no stone unturned since the race in Malaysia in a bid to uncover what went wrong, even though most teams would jump through hoops for a two-three finish.

“Although we had two cars on the podium, we have been looking very carefully at every area where we could have performed better,” said Wolff.

“Our opposition has raised its game and we must now raise ours even further.

“As we have said since Melbourne, we expect a season-long battle for both world championships and we must maximise every opportunity.

“China is the next chance to do that — a circuit which has been a good hunting ground for the team.

“Lewis has a great record here, and for Nico it’s where he made his first step into the winners’ circle.

“We have the weapons at our disposal and we need to make the most of them this weekend.”

Hamilton is a three-time winner at the Shanghai International Circuit — including last year — while he has been on the podium on three other occasions.

Rosberg, meanwhile, was second to Hamilton last year after triumphing in 2012.

“Malaysia was a tough weekend,” said Hamilton.

“We’ve been working hard to analyse everything for the next race in China. The circuit is one I really enjoy and it suits my driving style quite well.”

by Our Sports Desk