Mercedes intra-team relation to be governed by strict rules - Bottas

Valtteri Bottas will race Lewis Hamilton for all his worth but the Finn believes the relationship between the two men will be kept in check by Mercedes.

The German team's new recruit is up against his three-time world champion team mate who doesn't take any prisoners. Bottas' will to succeed is immense but it's unlikely Mercedes will tolerate the on-track clashes which prevailed at times between Hamilton and Nico Rosberg .

"They had a tough battle and really tough times against each other," Bottas told Autosport.

"But as a team [Mercedes] have also learned a lot about how to deal with those situations, and they have had so many different scenarios with the two drivers.

"I am sure that the rules will be quite strict about what you can do and what you can't."

• 'Zero problems with Bottas over data-sharing,' says Hamilton

The subtleties of racing one of the best drivers in the field who also happens to be his team mate are not lost on the 27-year-old Finn.

"It is definitely tricky to be a team player and at the same time always trying to put yourself in front.

"It is a kind of a new situation for me. I think it's best for me to carry on as I have always done, so I do everything for the team.

"But, at the same time, I have my own goals and in F1 you do need to be selfish if you want to win.

"I normally get on with everyone and I believe I definitely can race very hard but fair with Lewis and respect each other."

Time will tell just how long a 'fair and respectful'  relation between the two Silver Arrows drivers will last.

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