Lewis Hamilton has claimed that his relationship with new teammate Valtteri Bottas is working perfectly.

After the inter-team acrimony of the past ended when Nico Rosberg retired, Mercedes replaced the German with Finn Bottas but only on a one-year deal.

However, Hamilton sounds keen for the new partnership to continue in 2018.

Asked to compare the arrangement with the recent past, the Briton told Bild: "Yes, with Valtteri it is different.

"It just feels better than a one and two with Nico.

"Valtteri supports me a lot. It is a completely different level professionally. As a team, we are more united than ever. And when it's the other way around, I'll help and support him."

Team boss Toto Wolff also seems happy with the new driver dynamic at Mercedes.

"You just have to look at how the two of them interact on the podium," he said. "It's totally different to Lewis and Nico."

Hamilton and Bottas are currently second and third respectively in the driver rankings.