Relationship with Hamilton unchanged - Rosberg

Nico Rosberg has applied the brakes to teammate Lewis Hamilton’s claim that the pair are once again friends.

While their title-duelling relationship at Mercedes has been troubled at times, world champion Hamilton said it has improved to the point that they now hang out in their mutual apartment complex in Monaco.

"When I finished a few laps (in the swimming pool), we sat and talked for 20 minutes or half an hour," Hamilton told the Mail on Sunday, describing a recent encounter with Rosberg.

Rosberg was asked about those comments during a media event in Hockenheim on Tuesday, and said little had actually changed.

"The relationship is as always," he answered, according to DPA news agency. "It’s up and down.

"The basic respect is always there, but there will be trouble again I’m sure."

Rosberg said the fight for victory this weekend in Austria will be closely fought, perhaps like the duel in the past between Michael Schumacher and his hero Mika Hakkinen.

"Mika was my idol. I knew nothing else," Rosberg smiled, as on Tuesday he got the chance to drive Hakkinen’s 1998 title-winning McLaren.

In those days, Hakkinen was managed by Nico’s father, 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg.