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MELBOURNE, Australia - The Mercedes drivers' charge for victory in Melbourne will be unfettered by 'team orders'.
During the 1998 season-opener, McLaren enraged spectators at Albert Park, with its dominant car.
In 2014, the similarly-silver Mercedes appear to be the class-leading cars of the field. Nico Rosberg insists there will be no McLaren-style controversy this time.
In a column for The Daily Mail newspaper, Rosberg said: "David Coulthard had a deal in place in whichever driver got to the opening corner first would be allowed to win the race."
'THEY CAN RACE'
When Hakkinen ran into trouble mid-race, Coulthard pulled over on the straight to let him back into the lead.
Rosberg said: "I wouldn't like that and I don't think the team would either, so we are going to try and avoid such measures."
Team chairman Niki Lauda agrees that Rosberg and his team mate Lewis Hamilton will be free to race throughout the 2014 season.
Lauda said:"They can race against each other and collect as many points as possible for the team."
There have already been some signs of strain between the silver-clad duo, but Briton Hamilton insists he and Rosberg will cope with a heightened rivalry in 2014.
Hamilton said: "Nico and I have known each other since we were 13. "We've raced and won and lost championships together. We will remain professional."
Hamilton however had a poor start to the 2014 season as he suffered engine failure during the first practice session of the Australian GP.
Stay with Wheels24 for the first race of the 2014 F1 season in Melbourne.
During the 1998 season-opener, McLaren enraged spectators at Albert Park, with its dominant car.
In 2014, the similarly-silver Mercedes appear to be the class-leading cars of the field. Nico Rosberg insists there will be no McLaren-style controversy this time.
In a column for The Daily Mail newspaper, Rosberg said: "David Coulthard had a deal in place in whichever driver got to the opening corner first would be allowed to win the race."
'THEY CAN RACE'
When Hakkinen ran into trouble mid-race, Coulthard pulled over on the straight to let him back into the lead.
Rosberg said: "I wouldn't like that and I don't think the team would either, so we are going to try and avoid such measures."
Team chairman Niki Lauda agrees that Rosberg and his team mate Lewis Hamilton will be free to race throughout the 2014 season.
Lauda said:"They can race against each other and collect as many points as possible for the team."
There have already been some signs of strain between the silver-clad duo, but Briton Hamilton insists he and Rosberg will cope with a heightened rivalry in 2014.
Hamilton said: "Nico and I have known each other since we were 13. "We've raced and won and lost championships together. We will remain professional."
Hamilton however had a poor start to the 2014 season as he suffered engine failure during the first practice session of the Australian GP.
Stay with Wheels24 for the first race of the 2014 F1 season in Melbourne.