Fernando Alonso has labelled 2016's title fight "terribly boring" and said Mercedes' advantage is so big its drivers can keep crashing and one will still win the championship.
Despite high hopes of a Ferrari challenge this season 2016 is looking likely to be a two-horse race between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes holds a healthy lead in both championships despite its drivers colliding twice this year, crashing out of the first lap in Spain and then hitting each other on the final lap of the last race in Austria.
On the second occasion it cost the team a certain one-two and saw Nico Rosberg drop to fourth, meaning more lost points for the reigning world champions. Alonso does not think anything will change after Austria despite Mercedes issuing a final warning to Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg because the team is so far ahead of its rivals.
Asked about the situation, Alonso said: "I know it's a big thing for the media because the championship is terribly boring and they are winning every race and it's good to talk but I don't think that they will change anything for them or anything for the championship. Life will still be the same after Austria.
"It's something that will happen, they crash in 2014 in Spa, this has been going on and on. In Austin last year, in Suzuka, in some races and this year it's Austria and maybe Austin again in 10 races time. They've been three times world champions and nothing will change, it is normal, they are close.
"They don't have battles with Red Bull because they are 30 seconds [behind], they don't have battles with Ferrari because they are one minute ahead, they have battles with their teammates. Sometimes they crash but in 50 races they crash three times, its normal."
Alonso welcomed Mercedes' decision to let the drivers race on.
"That is good probably for the fans, for everyone, because the sport is about competition but if one day they need to police this, probably it is normal because at the end of the day there is one team principal, there is one owner, there is one president of car company, they want to see both cars on the podium, not in the gravel so it's something that as I said from the outside it's not a big thing, I don't think even on the inside it's a big thing because they will finish first and second in the championship."