Rosberg: conflict with Hamilton was 'very positive'

Nico Rosberg has insisted that his fractious relationship with Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton had actually been very positive.

The pair had been friends since their early days competing as teenagers in karting. However their relationship became increasingly fractious during their time pitted against each other at Brackley.

Rosberg lost out to Hamilton in the world championship in 2014 and 2015. He finally clinched the title in 2016 - and five days later announced his retirement from the sport.

Hamilton has since said that the acrimonious atmosphere within the team had improved after Rosberg's exit. For his part, Rosberg said it was testament to what the pair had achieved in their time as team mates.

"I found it very positive," Rosberg told Motorsport.com this week. "We were probably the most successful teammate pairing in the history of Formula 1 on the track.

"We were pushing each other to the ultimate high level," he added. "Of course, it's not easy, but that's what in my eyes keeps the drive going and the motivation high. For me, that was largely positive.

"Clearly it was an extremely intense and challenging situation," he said. "But all the more rewarding then to come out on top, and against Lewis, who was rewriting the record books himself.

"To come out on top against him was so damn rewarding," he admitted. "And all that has come together in me being just absolutely so entirely fulfilled with my career, because the ending was just perfection for me."

• Rosberg credits 'good genes' for world title success

Rosberg used a quote from Hamilton to back up his comments:

"'When you have two strong drivers in the team as we had, well, when the battle is within the team, it's like a hurricane with strong energy and it is just stuck in the room.'

"That's a quote from Lewis - and I'll take that as a compliment!"

As far as Rosberg is concerned, he's open to having normal conversations again with Hamilton now that the pair are no longer pitted together.

"I don't see why, with time, we can't start having conversations again in a normal way," he said.

"I've always had great respect for him. I don't have anything against him. He was just a competitor, and then naturally there was this difficult situation. But the base respect was always there.

"I still respect him as a person and as a racing driver," Rosberg insisted. "I always will and always have. That always remains and remains since we were 14 years old."

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