Mercedes cannot get carried away with F1 form - Toto Wolff

The Brackley-based squad has bounced back from a poor end to the 2012 season to become Red Bull's closest challenger in the Malaysian Grand Prix last week.

Lewis Hamilton finished in third position behind the Red Bulls at Sepang, and afterwards declared that Mercedes is now Formula 1's second strongest outfit.

Wolff admitted that Mercedes's early form has inevitably raised hopes for the season, but insisted it was crucial to continue working without getting carried away.

"Of course," said Wolff when asked by AUTOSPORT if expectations had been raised after the first two races of the season.

"I was not so unhappy that we did not make it on pole because imagine how much the expectation would have been for the race.

"We had a good solid race, the world champion has still shown us that there is lots to do, and that we should switch our lights off later than the others in the offices.

"The expectations are there, but we must not let ourselves be carried away."

Wolff conceded, however, that the step forward taken by Mercedes was exactly what he had wished for.

"This is what I hoped for; this is where the team should be," he said.

"Being among the top teams, and winning a world championship, you need to put it all together," he said.

"I am happy [that] in the second race we have been consolidating that position, but it is about keeping working, keeping developing and looking forward. That race is already forgotten."