Toto Wolff, Mercedes AMG Petronas Executive Director, has said that contrary to its current policy, the team may decide to apply team orders to its drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.
In spite of its outstanding performance advantage, which brought Mercedes a 1-2 finish in China, the team will not underestimate a potential threat represented by Ferrari in the championship.
"If at some point there's a risk of losing a race to Ferrari during a Grand Prix, we could unfortunately send a dreaded radio message to our drivers," warns Wolff.
"We wouldn't freeze the positions, but a situation could arise where we would have no other choice but to exert more control over our drivers."
Wolff also reminded that the team's interests were above those of its drivers.
"Our main objective, and this was decided with our drivers, is the responsibility we bear towards this team and the brand," insisted the Austrian.
"It's doesn't just boil down to the work of two individuals, but it includes the thousands of people who work on these cars. So if we must interfere with drivers because we may be running the risk of losing a race, then that's what we'll have to do. Our advantage over our rivals isn't as important as it was last year when we could let them fight at each race to the end."
Click here to look under the skin of the front-running 2015 cars
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
