Sebastian Vettel believes Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are professional enough to avoid letting their rivalry affect their Formula One championship chances.
With Ferrari and Vettel in the hunt for this year's titles, ensuring Mercedes will not have it all their own way as was the case last term, Hamilton and Rosberg need to work together on occasions.
That was certainly not the case in China on Sunday when Rosberg bemoaned Hamilton's pace out front, backing the German into the clutches of Vettel.
Although the air was apparently cleared post race, Vettel recognises there may be an occasion when an on-track battle works to his advantage.
Addressing Rosberg's dig at Hamilton in the post-race press conference, and as he sat on the sidelines listening, Vettel said: "It was obviously a comfortable position for me.
"But both of them are professional enough to handle the situation, even though I can see it is very interesting for you (the media) to keep pushing them.
"For us, it is irrelevant. We need to look after ourselves, and if they are in trouble with each other and take each other out, everyone benefits, not just us, so it would be welcome.
"But equally we are not expecting that. As I've said, they are professionals and they know what they are doing."
Vettel, though, has conceded he could understand Rosberg's point of view as there was a danger of Mercedes' eventual one-two becoming a one-three or worse.
"I don't know what Lewis did, whether he had more pace in hand or not," added Vettel.
"Lewis probably knows best, but I understood Nico's complaint.
"In the end, if you always go early (to attack) - and I did the same thing, but even more aggressive trying to put him (Rosberg) under pressure - then you always need to survive at the end of the stint because your tyres are a bit older."
After finishing third, first and third respectively in the three races to date in Australia, Malaysia and China, Vettel is confident of being in the mix again this weekend in Bahrain.
"I expect to be in a good position," said Vettel.
"So far this year, no matter the conditions, the ambient temperature, track temperature, I've always felt comfortable in the car.
"It seems to work in all sorts of conditions - dry or wet, hot or cold - so we should be in reasonable shape.
"We still need to confirm that, it's still early, but the most important thing is we are right behind Mercedes, and ideally a little bit closer every time."
Source: PA
