“It’s difficult, very difficult,” said the German. “We need to find the balance also, because in the first instant we are racing for Mercedes, representing Mercedes and representing 1000+ people – and my colleagues at the factory whose families depend on us. So we have to work as a team. But there comes a point where you want to beat the other guy, and it is a fine line.”

Rosberg suggests, however, that his relationship with Hamilton has not changed that much this season – with the highs and lows similar to those he has experienced in the past.

“It is always the same. It doesn’t change,” he said. “It is neutral. And sometimes it is easier and sometimes there are more difficult periods, but we work through the difficult ones and that is it. It hasn’t really changed. Sorry. That is a really boring answer.”

Rosberg believes that one of the key factors that has helped prevent more trouble between himself and Hamilton is that Mercedes management have acted in a transparent manner.

“It is a very, very difficult job in the more difficult periods to manage, the whole situation,” said Rosberg. “And really we are very fortunate. We are set up very well from that point of view – the three of them, Toto [Wolff], Niki [Lauda] and Paddy [Lowe]. I am grateful to the way they have managed the team and the situations and done a good job. As we have seen historically in such battles, it is massively difficult to manage, so it is important to get it right.”