Mercedes boss Toto Wolff is already warning his drivers about their conduct, with the prospect of a head-to-head duel for the Formula 1 title.

After four successive 1-2 finishes to start 2019, Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have taken two wins apiece, with the gap between them a solitary point in the Finn's favour after his fastest lap in Australia.

Currently, 35 points separate between Bottas and Sebastian Vettel, and Wolff wants to ensure Mercedes don't gift the German and Ferrari a way back into the fight.

"You have two drivers that have the ambition and the ability to win a championship and it's up to us, together with them, to be very aware of that situation and remember that very quickly Vettel or [Charles] Leclerc could be back into the game.

"We mustn't be carried away with the four first results."

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Should future results lead to a Hamilton/Bottas duel for the title, however, the Austrian is hopeful their fight won't descend to the levels seen between the Briton and Nico Rosberg in 2016.

"We are lucky that they have a very good relationship," he said. "But as a matter of fact, we have to be conscious.

"We have seen relationships deteriorate and both of the drivers, the respect needs to stay there.

"If that would ever be the case, again after Nico and Lewis we would issue yellow and red cards."

Hamilton was keen to stress that he has the interests of Mercedes, referencing how he battled Bottas through the first two corners in Baku.

"Selfishly I could have for sure pushed a lot harder and Valtteri would have lost a position, maybe I would have gained the position, most likely he would have got overtaken by a Ferrari or something like that," he explained.

"Ultimately I lost out in that but that's a sacrifice you have to sometimes make in order for the team to win.

"I think if it was a Ferrari there it would have been a lot different," Lewis added.

Looking forward, the world champion also echoed the earlier comments from the Mercedes boss.

"I think Valtteri and I have always had a lot of respect for each other and we continue to do so. I think you can see that," he said.

"That's how we deal with it - we discuss it before the race, we agree as gentlemen, and we stick to it."