Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo believes his team have done a great job so far in managing the internal driver rivalry between him and team-mate Max Verstappen.
Often when a team is fighting for race wins and has two capable drivers, the tension can boil over and begin to have a negative effect on the team itself, as has happened so many times in the past.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were very close prior to their time at Mercedes, but their relationship turned sour as soon as they were in contention for race wins and now the pair hardly speak to one another.
But Ricciardo believes as long as Red Bull continue to let their drivers fight fairly and with equal equipment, their harmonious relationship can continue as long as they're team-mates.
"So far Red Bull have done it really well, I think," the Australian told Motorsport.
"If we qualify alongside each other then they say, 'Just be careful at the first corner, don't ruin each other's races,' but beyond that we're allowed to race, and fight hard and battle – but not make contact.
"We can defend and attack like we're with any other competitor…but just with that extra percentage of respect knowing that if we damage each other, then we're letting down six or seven-hundred people who work for the team."
That approach is, according to Ricciardo, the best way to manage two highly-competitive drivers.
"I think Red Bull have the balance good. So I think that's been the right approach and they should keep doing that."
Discussion about this post