Wolff thinks Mercedes have the best driver and the best car

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has insisted that the Silver Arrows currently have the 'strongest driving' as well as the best performing vehicle, but did admit that there were some occasions in the past when he has butted heads with his current champion, Lewis Hamilton.

In 2016, Nico Rosberg won the world title at the expense of Hamilton, who did not hide his feelings at losing out to his partner. Rosberg would go on to retire, and Wolff admits he had to have more than one heart-to-heart conversation with Hamilton to rebuild positivity in the squad.

"Every driver has the right to be upset when you lose a championship," he told the Formula One official site.

"You could not expect him to be all cheery when his team-mate has just walked away with the title! Another factor, of course, was that the relationship between the two was not great. Frustration had built up over the season on Lewis’ side, but not on the team side. Some of it was for very right reasons, but there are always two perspectives. Where it all changed for me was that meeting in the winter.

"It was not an easy discussion, but since then we’ve grown stronger together. And no doubt it is a perfect match: we provide the best car on the grid and he provides the strongest driving. So yes, it works for both of us.

"It’s nothing about forgiving. It is about accepting that somebody else has a different perspective and different opinion. So sometimes all it takes is to agree that you disagree. And then move on. In any functioning relationship of mine it is never plain sailing. You grow in difficult moments – and that goes for him and myself."

Wolff then looked ahead to the 2018 season, and admitted that he expects a more competitive campaign for Mercedes with the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull likely to improve.

"Winning becomes more difficult with every single year," he continued.

"I guess we will see a fight between Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing – and maybe McLaren-Renault will join us in the title fight. That is an exciting outlook for the fans. But, of course, we want to make the right calls over the winter. Minimize your mistakes – and then go racing. And if you win you know that you have done a good job!"