With the 2018 F1 racing season just around the corner, teams are warming up their engines, so to speak, on the test track to give everyone an early glimpse of what to expect from their cars for this year.The season opener, as is now tradition, will fire off in Melbourne Australia in a month's time, and should reveal whether Mercedes' dominance of the sport will indeed continue for another year.Mercedes' domination of Formula 1 started in 2014 when new engine regulations saw the German manufacturers take pole position in terms of their car's performance and reliability. Since then, they have won four consecutive Constructors' and Drivers' World Championships claiming an incredible 62 victories from the last 79 races.Although Ferrari put up more of a challenge in 2017, the Silver Arrows still finished 146 points clear of their rivals in the constructors' championships.Current Managing Director of Motorsport Ross Brawn, who, ironically, was one of the architects to the rise of Mercedes as the team's chief from 2010 to 2013, warned that this year we may see a continued, if not stronger Mercedes domination of the field."They've got a great group of people, but my slight worry is that they will get even stronger now," Brawn told ESPN in December. "They've had a change of senior management -- Paddy Lowe left and James Allison came -- and that was in the middle of a car [regulation] change, which is not easy."By their own admission, the car they had this year was a bit of a diva and I strongly suspect that's not going to be the case next year. So I just see -- unfortunately in many ways -- a continuation of the steamroller. Let's hope I'm wrong!"Indeed many observers and fans of F1 are worried that the predictability the sport has encountered over the past few seasons might turn away potential new and casual fans.It's been a hot topic of discussion in the paddock with various manufacturers, including Red Bull's Christian Horner, keen to see a closer race for the title.And even the man who can claim some responsibility for Mercedes' dominance, team boss Toto Wolff, understands how it may frustrate the neutral supporter. Nevertheless, there will be no respite from his team heading into the new campaign."From a fan's perspective, I can absolutely understand that you cheer for the underdog, you want it to be more variable, you want to have more drivers and teams winning," Wolff told Sky Sports.

"But I am not sitting on the fence. I'm responsible for Mercedes and I want to do well and I want to do well for the brand and for our team and that is why I'm giving it my best go at being successful."

Consider his comments as warning shots for the rest of the grid ahead of the upcoming Formula 1 season.