Nico Rosberg has admitted that his relationship with Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton will be more difficult because both drivers are competing with each other for race wins.

The German leads the World Championship by four points after he edged out the Briton in a closely-fought Monaco Grand Prix, but ahead of this weekend's race in Canada, Rosberg is adamant that the strain will not damage their friendship.

He told reporters: "It's not changed in any way, it's still the same as it used to be.

"But of course it's more difficult, that's clear. We're fighting every single race weekend, it's me against him and there's nobody else.

"So that definitely makes it more difficult and there's more at stake. There is the opportunity of winning the championship this year - that is the ultimate goal in racing - so there's a lot at stake."

Championship rival Hamilton has also publicly suggested that any previous rift between the pair has now been settled.