- Mercedes
Mercedes sticks to policy of open warfare between drivers
Toto Wolff says Mercedes will continue with a policy of open warfare between its two drivers as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg look set for another head-to-head battle for the title in 2015.
Hamilton came out on top in 2014, but only after a tense, year-long battle that came to a peak at the Belgian Grand Prix when the pair collided on track. After Spa the team said it would continue with a policy of no team orders but disciplined both drivers and laid down more ground rules.
Ahead of the start of the 2015 season in Melbourne this weekend, Wolff was asked if Mercedes would continue with a policy of "open warfare", to which he replied: "Absolutely right."
Wolff added: "The management of Nico and Lewis is not a difficult topic. We have a very open and transparent relationship. We discuss a lot; sometimes we agree, sometimes we disagree but it's a positive thing and not at all a difficulty."
The drivers were also asked for their thoughts on a repeat of 2014 and Rosberg said he expected another year of ups and downs.
"It's been a great battle and I'm sure it's going to continue to be," Rosberg said. "It's a big challenge for both of us, especially also with the difficulty of it being internal.
"If it's another driver in another team it would be less complicated but since it's really in the same team that makes it more difficult because you always have that extremely big compromise to play which is that you always have to favour the team first and then think of yourself, especially at the beginning of the season.
"So that's the big challenge and it's going to continue to have its ups and downs and easy phases and difficult phases, I think that's quite natural but I'm confident we'll manage another great season."
Hamilton simply answered: "I anticipate a very similar season to last year."
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