The in-team rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg is turned up a few notches as the Briton claims he is hungrier than the German.

Having raced against one another since their early teens, Lewis and Nico have become good friends over the years, and in recent times each has appeared genuinely delighted with the other's success. However, the fact is they are racing drivers and at the end of the day they are rivals.

Now armed with a package capable of winning the ultimate prize, the Formula One World Championship, behind the smiles both men are focussed on just one thing, beating the other. Whilst first blood (in Australia) went to the German, his teammate has taken four successive wins, finally taking the championship lead in China.

Whilst Bahrain kept us on the edge of our seats, Mercedes knows that despite all the talk of refusing to introduce team orders sooner or later things are going to spill over, either as Hamilton enforces his superiority or Rosberg grows frustrated. The tetchy radio interaction in Spain was proof that Hamilton is watching the situation very closely, determined not to give an inch away.

Today however, things took a twist, as the Briton came right out and claimed to be more hungry for success than his teammate, a claim that will either bury Rosberg or fully fire him up.

"Let me tell you this," he told reporters, "I come from a not-great place in Stevenage and lived on a couch in my dad's apartment... Nico grew up in Monaco with jets and hotels and boats and all these kind of things. So the hunger is different.

"I want to be the hungriest guy in the cockpit from all twenty-two of us," he continued, "even if every driver has to believe that he's the hungriest, because if I were to come here believing that Nico is hungrier than me then I might as well go home. So I've got to be the hungriest. To win the world championship you need to be the hungriest."

"When you're so competitive it is impossible to be best friends, but it stays respectful," said Hamilton. "We will always have the years in karting, that kind of foundation of a long time ago."

There was a final twist of the knife as the championship leader admitted that, for him, the best result on Sunday would be "finishing first, Fernando finishing second and Sebastian finishing third."

It would appear that the gauntlet has been fully laid at the feet of the likeable German, who won here a year ago.

Check out our Thursday gallery, here.

Chris Balfe

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by nonickname, 25/05/2014 15:26

"*It is in very bad taste for someone reared and tutored by Ron Dennis to make a coment like this,but then he did not realy do anything to thank his sponsor either. I would rate him as the luckiest world champion(lower case on purpose) we have ever seen, as the way in which he won was pure luck and not the result of any real talent.In fact had it not been for the profesionalism of his team he would not even have been on the same lap as Massa.
Unfortuantely he carries a rather poor image with him, looking more like a Gangsta Rapper than a Brand Ambasador for Mercedes Benz......but maybe their manketing deparement is after a new market segment. Dare I say...you can take a boy out of the lounge...?"

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2. Posted by ESTMPRFT, 23/05/2014 12:48

"Being raised since the age of 12 at the teat of Ron Dennis isn't being privileged? Everytime Lewis opens his mouth he does himself and the sport a disservice. He should let the racing do the talking."

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3. Posted by Spindoctor, 23/05/2014 10:18

"I'm surprised, and a bit disappointed if this is the MEANING that Lewis intended by his comments. Having "enjoyed" being misquoted & having comments taken out of context myself, I'm reluctant to make too much of these reported comments.

Let's hope that Lewis isn't going off on some kind of "Street" tangent. It matters not one jot how "hungry" he is: it will all come down to setting-up & driving the car faster than his rivals. So-far he's been exemplary. These mind games will most likely distract him more than Nico......"

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4. Posted by Kkiirmki, 23/05/2014 5:56

"I don't even know why Hamilton's even bothering to play mind games? His actions on track are all he needs to get into Rosberg's head. All his efforts in catching Hamilton in a couple of races were always going to come to naught as Rosberg was never going to pass him."

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5. Posted by gturner38, 23/05/2014 0:28

"While Nico grew up in Monaco, he also grew up with the Rosberg name. Being the son of a World Champion must add some pressure and could arguably make him hungry for success, too. None of what Hamilton said was wrong or disrespectful. He does have to be hungry and believe they are the hungriest. It's also true that the best result for his WDC aspirations would be Nico failing to finish. It means nothing."

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6. Posted by Joel91257, 23/05/2014 0:21

"This makes perfect sense to me. I had no idea Rosberg grew up in Monaco, but he has always struck me as being pretty spoiled; it's just his whole attitude and demeanor. So no real surprise to learn of his ultra-privileged upbringing; he's probably never known a hard day his entire life. That's fine, but I do have a lot more respect and appreciation for someone like Hamilton."

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7. Posted by SirExilon, 22/05/2014 22:55

"BS. Lewis was taken OUT of context, BAD reporters do it for the glory adn to start a battle.

He said he has to think he is the hungriest of the 22 of them, not just Nico.

And compared their upbringing, but as a normal intimate interview just used like reporters do. Sickens me.

"

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Hamilton turns up the heat on Rosberg

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