Nico Rosberg invites Sebastian Vettel to Mercedes debrief

Invitation: Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel

Nico Rosberg has offered an “official invitation” to Sebastian Vettel to sit in on a Mercedes engineering debrief at next weekend’s Malaysia GP.

Rosberg took to Twitter to extend the invitation on Tuesday having initially suggested Vettel should pay the world champions a visit after they dominated the Australian GP in Melbourne.

“I spoke to Toto and Paddy about an invitation for Sebastian and they are easy with it,” Rosberg tweeted, referring to team bosses Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe.

“Dear Seb, this is the official invitation to join our debrief Friday 16.00 at Sepang. See you there, don't forget your notebook!”

Speaking after finishing a close second behind Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne, but over 30 seconds ahead of Vettel in third, Rosberg said it was “important for the sport and for the fans” that Mercedes’ rivals pose a stronger challenge.

“We know it would be good if they can come a bit closer, as long as they don’t come too close,” he said.

“So you hope you slow down? Is that what you’re saying?” Vettel bantered, before suggesting that he might take a closer look at the secrets behind Mercedes’ success.

Rosberg and Vettel in Barcelona pre-seasonn

Vettel’s new team, Ferrari, are fast shaping up to be their closest challengers, although after the opening race the Silver Arrows appear, if anything, even further ahead than they were last year.

Of their rivals, only Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene suggested after Sunday's race that they might challenge anytime soon.

In contrast, Vettel’s former boss, Red Bull’s Christian Horner, said that the rules should be changed to rein in Mercedes.

His leading driver, Daniel Ricciardo, finished down in sixth with a Renault engine Horner described as “undriveable”.

“I do think about the show,” Rosberg added. “Half of me – or a part of me – thinks about the show because I want to give people a great time at home watching on TV or at the track.

“If you do come a bit closer, that would be awesome for everybody.”