I'm hungrier than Rosberg - Lewis Hamilton

The duo are locked in fascinating battle for the 2014 Formula 1 crown, with Hamilton moving three points clear at the top of the standings after claiming his fourth successive victory at the recent Spanish Grand Prix.

"Let me tell you this: I come from a not-great place in Stevenage and lived on a couch in my dad's apartment – and Nico grew up in Monaco with jets and hotels and boats and all these kind of things – so the hunger is different," Hamilton, the 2008 title winner, explained during an interview with the official Formula 1 website.

"I want to be the hungriest guy in the cockpit from all 22 of us - 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."

Despite suggestions of their on track battles leading to off track problems as the season develops, Hamilton says his relationship with Rosberg, who he partnered during his early karting days, will always be respectful.

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