Mercedes boss fears Hamilton-Rosberg relationship turning into 'bitter rivalry'

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has said that he believes the relationship between his team's racers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will explode into open warfare at some point this season.

The Brackley duo have won one race apiece but the British race ace has shown superior speed to collar pole each time.

According to the Mirror, Wolff and his team are bracing themselves for the moment that things boil over, saying that at some point of the time, the belief that it is 'one team' would be smashed as the two drivers try to use every advantage they can in their individual competition.

Stating that the intra-team rivalry has been there since last January, Wolff however, said that Hamilton and Rosberg have a fair relationship with each other now, adding that it is important that the team makes it clear from now on that such things should not mess up the progress they have made.

Despite Mercedes' enormous advantage, Wolff echoed Hamilton's belief that Red Bull will soon be title contenders, especially since Sebastian Vettel was third at Sepang only a handful of seconds behind Rosberg and he did manage to split them in qualifying.