Rivalry won’t boil over, insists Wolff

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is confident the simmering rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will not boil over and has revealed the pair may be allowed to duel for the Formula One title.

German Rosberg leads the drivers’ standings on 202 points, with Briton Hamilton 11 points behind and their nearest rival Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) a further 60 points adrift.

Mercedes have won nine of the 11 grands prix this season and it appears Rosberg and Hamilton, whose relationship has been frosty of late, are in pole position for the title. Wolff said “Yes, potentially it is going to get more heated, but if we carry on performing as we do now I am still optimistic the two of them will be fighting for the world championship.