Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says he wants a balance between disruption and calmness from his two Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilto🥂n and Valtteri Bottas to produce a winning combination but isn’t worried about a similar situation to Hamilton’s relationship with Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes has enjoyed a friendly rivalry in its garage with Hamilton and new recruit Bottas after the Finnish driver was called up as a late replacement for the retiring Rosberg last winter.🍨 Despite Bottas suffering a mid-season dip in form, team boss Wolff was pleased with the overall performance from both of his drivers as Mercedes wrapped up a fourth consecutive F1 world drivers’ and constructors’ championship. Hamilton sealed a fourth F1 drivers’ crown while Bottas narrowly missed out on a clean sweep for the German manufacturer by finishing third behind Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

Wolff has relished🦩 the inter-team rivalry between his drivers but accepts a blend of confrontation and positive mindset is needed to maintain its winning mentality. When Wolff was quizzed about fearing a repeat of the Hamilton and Rosberg bitter opposition he is confident the pair can maintain a rivalry which is constructive to the team.

“I don’t think we need to avoid a stressful situation,” Wolff said. “We need to ackn🎀owledge if tw꧂o team-mates are fighting for race wins and a championship, that this will be a rivalry. We need to acknowledge that this is the case.

“We are not trying✃ to build a new family here, we need to be the most effective racing team and an effective racing team needs stress needs disruption as much as it needs calmness and a positive attitude and mindset. But like everything in life you need to find a mix of both, probably the recipe to success.”

Wolff is eager to see Bottas improve on his performances in 2018 to provide an F1 title challenge a🐭longside Hamilton which could lead to the Finnish driver landing a long-term Mercedes contract. The F1 driver market is predicted to open up from the end of the next season with only Max Verst💦appen and Sebastian Vettel currently secured on deals beyond next year at Red Bull and Ferrari respectively.