Formula One leader Nico Rosberg expects his rocky relationship with Mercedes’ team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton to improve despite the rift between them after last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Rosberg won the showcase race on Sunday to retake the championship lead from Hamilton, who suggested the German had used underhand tactics to secure pole position in Saturday qualifying.

Visiting the German football team at their World Cup preparations in Italy yesterday, Rosberg said such disputes between drivers of the same team were nothing new.

“In our sport we can only have success as a team,” Rosberg said.

“Nothing can happen alone. I make an effort for teamwork and for the atmosphere in the team.

“It is a bit more difficult internally at the moment. But it has happened in the past as well in our sport.”

Mercedes bosses have warned both drivers that they must not overstep the mark in an increasingly intense fight for the F1 title between the pair, with the team having won every race so far.