Haug relishes McLaren's intra-team rivalry

That is the view of Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug, who has brushed off any concerns that treating the pair completely equally has left the team exposed to more difficult situations - such as the Monaco 'team orders' controversy and Alonso's pit wall swerve at Indy.

Instead, Haug believes that having Alonso and Hamilton fight it out fairly on and off the track is a positive for the team because it ensures neither driver can relax.

"If a newspaper sends two news hounds to the paddock, then it is very likely that they do more research and will find out more than if they send someone alone," said Haug.

"We relish competition. If that remains within a sporting and fair frame, it pushes the team forwards.

"If on the other hand one driver knows right from the start the he will have the upper hand on his teammate, then he will not go as much to the limit.

"So I firmly believe that every team aim at having two equally strong drivers, but perhaps only half of all the teams managed to find them."

Haug has also dismissed any suggestions that the team have any bias towards Hamilton because he is a British driver in a British team.

"I think you can forget about that straight away. It was even said how we reacted joyfully on Lewis' quickest lap in Canada. Well, whoever stated that, conveniently forgot how much we cheered for Fernando being on the way to quickest lap and how disappointed we were when it did not happen.

"You always follow with passion the driver who is on a hot lap. But that has nothing to do with the fact that Lewis is a Briton.

"It is completely clear that Fernando is still feeling his way into our team. On the other hand, I am quite intrigued by stories I hear about Lewis having seven or eight years of experience with the Formula One team. That is simply not true. He simply knows us quite well, that is all.

"But why would we try to get a two-time world champion and then give him lesser material? People who know McLaren-Mercedes know that we are always fair to our drivers. If we were not, I think you would not see duels such as the one in Indianapolis.

"I also think that the fans appreciate that. I can also understand if the media try to create some controversy about two equally strong teammates."