Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team have admitted that they are not the favourites to win Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix after being mysteriously off the pace at the street circuit last year.

Hamilton and his team-mate Nico Rosberg were inferior to both the Red Bulls and Ferraris at the Marina Bay track in 2015.

Hamilton failed to finish after suffering from mechanical gremlins, while Rosberg could cross the line only fourth, 25 seconds behind winner Sebastian Vettel.

Mercedes, who have dominated F1 for nearly three years, hope they will be in a stronger position this year, but this week’s race under the lights is set to mark the first of the campaign in which they may not be the frontrunners.

“We go to Singapore with a big challenge ahead of us,” said Mercedes boss Toto Wolff.

“No team has ever scored a 1-2 finish there – and with good reason. As we have seen before, it’s a race where a single problem can cascade into many more.

“We have to optimise everything to get a solid result. We didn’t manage it last year and, although we believe we now understand why, only performance on the racetrack can prove our conclusions right.

“Ferrari were mighty around this circuit last year and it will suit the high downforce design philosophy so we must not make the mistake of thinking we are favourites this weekend.”

Hamilton and Rosberg are separated by only two points in the race for the title after the world champion’s poor start in Italy gift-wrapped victory to his sole championship rival.

“Monza didn’t quite go to plan,” said Hamilton.

“But when you look at how far we’ve come this season, from the position we were in, then I realise I’m in a phenomenal position.

“We’re leading both champion-ships and there are still so many great things to achieve together, even before the season is through.

“Next up it’s Singapore, which is always a great event. The race is a challenge with the heat but it’s a street circuit, which I love.

“Ferrari and Red Bull will be on it I’m sure, so we’ve got a big fight on our hands.”

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