Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says it would make "no sense" to put resources back into the 2021 car despite Red Bull's recent success.

After the French Grand Prix, the Austrian revealed all focus was now on next year's all-new cars due to the restrictions imposed financially under the new budget cap and developmentally, with Mercedes permitted less windtunnel time than any other team.

However, after Max Verstappen's latest success at the Styrian GP meant the Brackley-based outfit had now gone four races without a win for the first time in the hybrid era, Lewis Hamilton pleaded for more performance.

"Naturally they (Red Bull) are faster so there is not a lot that I can do in that respect," he admitted post-race on Sunday, having crossed the line 35 seconds behind Verstappen.

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"I've just got to keep trying to just do the best job I can each weekend, but we need to find some performance, we really need to, we need an upgrade of some sort, we need to push.

"I don't know where, whether it's just the rear wing or whether it's the upgrade in the engine, whatever it may be, but we've got to find some performance somewhere.

"We’re world champions and we can definitely improve if we put our minds to it," Hamilton noted.

"But if we’re not going to develop and improve our car for the rest of the year, this (the Styrian GP) is the result you’re going to see."

In response, Wolff revealed he and Hamilton have discussed the decision to focus on 2022 and insists Mercedes won't be changing course.

“That is basically what I am saying yes," he said.

“It is a very, very tricky decision because we are having new regulations not only for next year but the years to come. It's a completely different car concept, and you’ve got to choose the right balance and pretty much everybody’s going to be on next year’s car. Some may still bring stuff.

“Red Bull brought vans on Thursday and Friday with new parts and fair enough, it’s a strategy, and one that proves to be successful as it stands because today they were simply in a league of their own from a car pace-wise.”

However, the Mercedes boss also remained adamant that didn't mean the team was giving up this year's championship fight.

“The championship is not only played with adding aerodynamic parts because, at a certain stage, even teams like Red Bull also need to switch all of the development into next year,” he added.

“That means all the exploitation of the car around the set-up work, the tyres, and the optimisation of how we are running will become a very, very important part.

“And it would make no sense to put a week or two or month back on the current car, as the gains wouldn’t be anywhere near to the gains you’re making on the 2022 car. But having said that, this [title battle] is far from over.

“We had a very difficult weekend in Austria with no weapons in our armoury to win this race fair and straight, but we will be winning races this year and will be having pole positions and will be fighting as much as we can for every single result.”