Toto Wolff okay with Lewis Hamilton's "tricks"

Mercedes bosses think that Lewis Hamilton is employing mind tricks in a bid to defeat Nico Rosberg this weekend.

Hamilton must win on Sunday to stand any chance of winning the title, and he already began to put the pressure on by beating Rosberg in each of the first three practice sessions.

Both Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda have responded to recent comments from Hamilton, referring to a change in crew members between both Mercedes drivers at the start of the year.

"Maybe I'll write a book in ten years and we'll put some things in there," said Wolff.

And Lauda told Italy's Corriere della Sera: "I think Lewis was joking.

"But I tell you, if Toto and I decided to do a book, it would be much longer than his!"

Hamilton also caused controversy with further comments on Friday night, hinting that he didn't feel Rosberg was a deserving champion.

"I should keep this private," he said, "but in my heart, with how I have performed this season, I will feel that if he (Rosberg) is labelled world champion, it doesn't necessarily mean that to me."

But Wolff feels that the mind games are part of the battle.

"They can't be in love with each other this weekend but they need to play all the tricks to put themselves in a situation to hopefully win the championship," he said.

"Lewis needs that 'me against the world' thing," he added.