Rosberg expects Hamilton to be challenged: 'After Max the best qualifier '

"We're all looking forward to that dynamic," said the 2016 world champion. "Charles doesn't seem like someone who goes into conflict too much with his team-mate, so that will make it easier, maybe it won't be too extremely spicy. Nevertheless, Charles is probably the second-best qualifier out there after Max Verstappen, one could possibly say at the moment, so it will be a tough battle for both."

Hamilton timed well

Hamilton took his first world title for McLaren in 2008, followed by several disappointing years. Almost four years later, he decided to switch to Mercedes, taking his second world championship there a year later. Mercedes dominated Formula 1 from 2014, until the Max Verstappen era arrived.

Hamilton has not lacked for timing so far in his career. "At the moment, it seems in performance terms to be the right decision for him, which maybe he's made an amazing move like he did 12 years ago by moving from McLaren for Mercedes. McLaren was winning races and Mercedes was nowhere, and the moment he moved, McLaren went backwards and Mercedes started winning races. Maybe he can get the same timing done again."

Currently, Mercedes are in fourth place in the constructors' championship. The German team are on 52 points after five Grands Prix. Ferrari have three times as many points: 151.