Toto Wolff believes new restrictions on radio communications will intensify the battle between his drivers.

New for 2016, drivers are to drive "alone and unaided", their teams now banned from giving tips and advice relating to their own performance or details of others, including teammate, this following on from a clampdown last season.

Consequently, Toto Wolff expects to see the already heated rivalry between his two drivers further intensify.

"There is much less information and data being provided to the drivers during the races on engine modes, on tyres and strategies," he told the official F1 website.

"So the natural outcome of these regulation changes is that it will be again much more down to the drivers to take decisions," he continued. "That means that the direct competition between the two is guaranteed and will be more intense."

With pre-season testing telling us little, other than that the W07 has frightening reliability, many are wondering whether Lewis Hamilton will begin this season like he did 2015, or whether Nico Rosberg's late run of form in 2015 will continue.

"Of course this is still a team and neither we nor the drivers will opt for a decision which could jeopardize the team's reputation or the team's performance," insisted Wolff.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by TokyoAussie, 08/03/2016 3:35

"The new qualifying system would appear to be unworkable without radio (IMO, even with radio). What are they going to do, black flag each car as it gets cut from the field? They want to reduce radio traffic and make drivers work it out for themselves? Fine, start with qualifying!"

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2. Posted by Yeyox02, 07/03/2016 21:20

"Every boring day is the same: F1 is all about restrictions , prohibitions, no testing, etc. So why so much technology?"

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3. Posted by Kkiirmki, 07/03/2016 20:01

"Maybe the could even exclude pit stop information? The driver decides he needs to change his tyres and just pits, no warning, other than the team seeing the car driving down the pit lane. It would certainly make the pit stops more interesting. "

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4. Posted by Spindoctor, 07/03/2016 14:33

"@Nortim
I'm not that impressed to hear drivers constantly asking for "advice", I don't actually think that the lack of information will change anything very much. If, as we constantly hearing, tyre management is a necessary 'driver skill', then surely the clever use of information about one's competitors is also?"

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5. Posted by gasconboy, 07/03/2016 14:33

"A bit of sensible news at last!!"

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6. Posted by Nortim, 07/03/2016 14:06

"Forbid them to use radio, except for "Retire the car" if something is wrong with PU or other systems, or Penalty info, nothing else."

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Wolff: Radio restrictions will intensify driver battle

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