Lewis Hamilton believes the respect he and Valtteri Bottas have mean there is no repeat of the 2016 issues with Nico Rosberg.
Having scored four 1-2 finishes in the opening four races, there is already talk of a head-to-head battle between the Mercedes pair for this year’s world championship.
Even team boss Toto Wolff has already weighed in on the possibility but the reigning world champion is confident the dynamic with the Finn is much different to three years ago.
“There are things that happen in the background that you won’t know about. I don’t feel it’s the place to really talk about it,” Hamilton told Autosport on Thursday.
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“What’s really important is we pull together as a team. We’ve discussed it and hopefully rectified it and it won’t spring up again.
“Whereas what happened before, an individual [Rosberg, in 2016] just continued to go down that route, that’s not what we have here.
“We have a really great energy within the team, the respect is there. We have an agreed rule set out so we do finish the races one-two. We play supporting roles either way.”
This weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix actually sees a return to one of the biggest flashpoints between Hamilton and Rosberg, when they collided at Turn 4 on the opening lap taking each other out.
While that was actually caused by an error as opposed to any hostility, Lewis is adamant no repeat will take place with Bottas.
“It will always be respectful,” he stated. “Ultimately the core goal is for the team to finish at the top and I’m a team player.
“We’re not going to touch, that’s for sure.
“What we’re paid to do is win for the team and deliver for the team, as long as we remember that, we shouldn’t have problems.”
