American racing legend Mario Andretti does not believe that there is anything wrong with the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at Mercedes.
Hamilton and Rosberg have battled for the last two Formula 1 drivers’ championships and created what has become one of the most intriguing teammate rivalries in the long history of the series.
The tension between the drivers prompted Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff to issue a warning earlier this month, saying that he could be forced to change the line-up if their rivalry had a negative impact on the team as a whole.
However, Andretti sees nothing wrong with the tension between Hamilton and Rosberg, believing it to be typical of any team at the peak of its powers.
“I don’t think it’s anything unnatural,” Andretti told GPUpdate.
“I think it’s very natural to have that. When you have a team which has two absolutely capable drivers of achieving those kind of results, you’re going to have a bit of a war.
“As a driver you’re very selfish. If you’re not, there’s something wrong with you.”
Hamilton has also spoken about Wolff’s warning, believing it to have been an unnecessary step.
“We are grown men and we have done the job that we are hired to do to the maximum,” Hamilton told Sky Italia.
“We’ve not done it 95 per cent or 80 per cent. We’ve done it 100 per cent to how they’ve wanted us to do it.
“Has there been friction? Of course, you can’t have it perfect always. But have we always shone light on this team? I believe so.
“Have we always delivered when they’ve given us the opportunity to do so? I believe so.
“Am I surprised by [the threat]? Not really. Is it necessary? Not really.”
