Mercedes will "redouble" their efforts to improve reliability and give their drivers an equal shot at the Formula One World Championship, according to executive technical director Paddy Lowe.
Lewis Hamilton heads into the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka this weekend just three-points clear of team-mate and title rival Nico Rosberg – with the competition between the pair likely to run until the season's climax in Abu Dhabi.
Rosberg was forced to retire from the Singapore Grand Prix after residue caused a short-circuit, with the German parking in the garage after several unsuccessful laps at the back of the field.
That was Mercedes' fifth retirement in a season where they have had the fastest car at almost every grand prix, with Hamilton not finishing three races to Rosberg's two.
World champion in 2008, Hamilton took full advantage of Rosberg's woes in Singapore to pick up back-to-back victories and move to the top of the standings, albeit by a slender margin.
The Brit has said he wants a "straight battle" against his team-mate on the track to decide the title, rather than the championship being determined by whose car holds up best and Lowe has stressed that everyone at Mercedes is working towards improving technical difficulties.
"Credit must go to the team in terms of the strategy (in Singapore ) – which was bold but absolutely the right call," he said.
"It demanded a lot from Lewis in terms of his performance in the final phase of the race – but as always he delivered faultlessly.
"On the other side of the garage, it was very disappointing to have lost Nico's car in Singapore. This was down to the failure of a part which we have been running faultlessly since its introduction six years ago and so demonstrates the challenge of ensuring reliability in a modern Formula One car.
"Clearly, this is an area in which we need to perform a lot better in the future. Reliability is something we have been working on intensively over the past 12 months and we will redouble our efforts moving forwards. Now, we look ahead to Suzuka."
Meanwhile, Mercedes' head of motorsport Toto Wolff has suggested there is a remote possibility Hamilton and Rosberg will not be the team's pairing for the 2015 season.
Both remain under contract with the team but, after a fractious year in which both have had issues with one another, Wolff claimed that he was only "99 per cent" certain that the duo would continue as team-mates.
"You have to hold something back because exceptional circumstances can always arise. In life, nothing is ever 100 per cent for sure," he told Sport Bild.
Elsewhere, Caterham have announced that Kamui Kobayashi has retained his seat for his home race.
The 28-year-old has not been a definite starter for the team since being ousted for the Belgian Grand Prix in favour of Le Mans 24 Hour winner Andre Lotterer.
Hiring the experienced Japanese racer appeared an astute move by the struggling Caterham team, whose future in the sport remains uncertain despite a recent takeover by a Swiss-Middle Eastern consortium.
But Kobayashi has struggled in a car which has been the slowest on the grid at most races this year and he has been fighting for his place since August at Spa.
Caterham confirmed that he would be able to race in Suzuka, the track on which he achieved his only F1 podium to date with a third-placed finish for Sauber in 2012, and Kobayashi is looking forward to the spectacle even with his uncompetitiveness all-too apparent.
"I'm very excited to be back in front of all my Japanese fans and racing at Suzuka; I've been waiting for this race for over a year," he said.
"The Japanese Grand Prix and Suzuka have always been very special for me: it's where I experienced my first F1 free practice sessions back in 2009 and where I also achieved my first ever Formula 1 podium finish in 2012.
"I only have positive feelings going into this weekend. Unfortunately, this year I have to admit that I won't be fighting for a podium, but I will do my best to reward my fans with a strong performance in order to thank them for their enormous support."