The adrenaline-pumping Bahrain Grand Prix on April 6th – with Hamilton and Rosberg vying for glory – has got many F1 fans wondering: are we entering another golden era in this pinnacle of motorsport?
With Red Bull dominating previous seasons, Formula One had arguably become a little dull. But armed with a rejuvenated Mercedes car, both Hamilton and Rosberg are now able to show the world what they can really do – and add some real excitement in the process.
But part of the fun of watching them will be witnessing how their friendship – and rivalry – develops.
The stakes are huge. But we should remember that Rosberg and Hamilton have been firm friends for a long time – since both were 15 in fact – and so there are likely to be very public pressures on that friendship as the season heats up.
Of course, few would say that the Anglo-German pair are at quite the level of Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, but the way things are going, they might just get there.
Towards the end of the 19 rounds of this season, it may get very tight between Rosberg and Hamilton, leaving Mecercedes possibly forced to back one over the other in order to seal a win.
It's hard to see who they will pick, although it could come down to the points. However, Hamilton has one thing that Rosberg is yet to achieve: the F1 world championship, which he won in 2008. That experience will be very valuable.
As the two prepare for the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, the eyes of millions of F1 fans (many startrescue.co.uk annual breakdown cover customers among them) will be watching closely. Will there be a new relationship comparable to the iconic Franco-Brazilian duo of the late '80s? This season may be the one in which we find out.
Breakdown Cover from 
