Lewis Hamilton doesn't believe he nor Nico Rosberg need worry about Toto Wolff's assertion that one could be forced to leave the Mercedes if their rivalry begins to affಌect the team.

Mercedes F1 boss Wolff suggested co-operation within Mercedes has been key to their success in recent years, but should escalating tension between Hamilton and Rosberg esca♑late in 2016 begin to hamper the team's progress, he says he won't be afraid to 🦄make a drastic change.

With Rosberg's contract due to end in 2016 and Hamilton signed to a deal until 2018, it would appear that the former would be most likely to face the ax🐭e in such a scenario.

However, Hamilton played down the threat and even backed his team-mate to stay too, sayi🧸ng they will be safe as long as they continue to deliver 100 per cent, even if the 'fric𒊎tion' remains.

"We are grown men and we have done the job that we are hired to do to the maximum," the three-time world champion told Sky Italia. "We've not do𓃲ne 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 ligh♋t 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 it? Not really. Is it necessary? Not really," the three-time world champion told Sky Italia

Indeed, Hamilton warns against Mercedes becoming wrapped up in 'small th♕ings' as a threat to i🎃ts dominance of F1.

"We've had two incredibly successful years and when you complain about small things I think that is when you can easily lose your way. Of course we always want to be better and perfect, but as long as we stay together and continue to communicate I think it will be 𝄹good.

"I think it is easy for people to get complacent in life and I think it is important𒈔 as a team we don't get complacent."

Hamilton clinched 💖his third world title at a relative canter with three races to go, though Rosberg went into the off-season having dominated each of those fiౠnal trio of race.