Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says the respectful dynamic between Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas means the combination "works well".
The decision to choose the Finn in 2017 was largely based on bringing calm to the Brackley-based team following the increased tensions between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg which blew up in 2016.
For some Bottas' cordial approach is actually proving his downfall, having failed in coming close to beating the now seven-time world champion over a season.
But Wolff admits that is one reason why he has stuck with the 31-year-old.
“I think if you have a dynamic between two drivers where the talking happens on track, I think you can have two alpha males [in the team],” he told Formula1.com.
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“I like Valtteri and Lewis. The combination works well.
“When Lewis has a bad day, then Valtteri pulls it off, then the other way around…Valtteri had a really bad day [at the Turkish Grand Prix] and then Lewis wins the race. I think as a combination, it really works well.”
Hamilton too has recently spoken highly of his relationship with Bottas.
“I would say I’ve naturally grown over time, so learning more and more how to be a team player and a team leader,” he was quoted by GPFans.
“I really don’t think I’ve changed the way that I work [since Rosberg]. I generally keep myself to myself, I work with my team, but I think we have really good respect between us.
“We continue to work on our relationship, colleague-wise and competitor-wise, in the background and we don’t let whatever’s happened on track filter into when we get out of the car.
“When he wins, he knows he’s done it outright on hard work, and if not then he knows that he just has to work harder next time."
