Wolff: 'It's like Federer and Nadal between the drivers'

Lewis Hamilton's well-disposed attitude towards Mercedes team mate Valtteri Bottas is clearly a departure from the cold and distant relationship which prevailed with Nico Rosberg last year.

It's all for the better at Mercedes although that could quickly change with circumstances or a contentious on-track contentious by one driver over the other.

Toto Wolff insists however that the association between Hamilton and Bottas isn't weighed down by past rivalries or any sort of 'baggage', as the Austrian puts it.

"The Nico and Lewis situation was very special because they go back a long time and there was a lot of baggage," said Wolff.

"Some of it we know, some of it we'll never know, and it got quite tense and quite controversial at times. I don't feel that same stress in the relationship between the two of them.

"Between Vettel, Valtteri and Lewis I feel a little bit of a Federer-Nadal situation, there is a lot of respect for the competitor. I hope it can last."

GALLERY: All the pictures from Saturday in Bahrain

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.