Hamilton respects Rosberg more now - Wolff

Toto Wolff thinks world champion Lewis Hamilton respects Nico Rosberg more than ever in 2016.

"I think the respect was always there," the Mercedes team boss told German television RTL.

"But this season we see a Nico who is simply operating on an even higher level. You always have more respect for someone who can beat you," Wolff added.

Indeed, although Hamilton is a triple world champion, Rosberg has won the last three races on the trot and now narrowly leads the points standings.

Hamilton said in Malaysia that he thinks losing some mechanics to Rosberg’s side of the garage may have had an effect this year.

"The biggest effect it can have on the driver is psychologically, but it’s not something I want to go into," he told reporters.

Rosberg may also be trying to turn up the psychological pressure on Hamilton by commenting on rumours that his British teammate is learning to speak German.

"Well, I wish him luck," Rosberg, responding to suggestions Hamilton would like to speak in bosses Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda’s native tongue, told Bild newspaper.

"He also wanted to learn Italian and Spanish and as far as I know it didn’t go well," Rosberg, a fluent speaker in six languages, added.