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 In comments that will do little to ease tensions between the pair
ahead of Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, the double Formula One world
champion also told British reporters that he was more of a racer
than his rival.
"I've always said he is really strong mentally," Hamilton was quoted
on Tuesday as saying. "But I'd like to think I'm stronger this
year."
The Briton has won eight of the last 10 races, beaten Rosberg in
nine of them, and started all three grands prix this season from
pole position.
The tension between the two, evident last year as they battled for
the title, flared up again in Shanghai when Rosberg accused Hamilton
of compromising his race by driving selfishly slow and leaving him
exposed to the Ferraris behind.
In the end they finished one-two for the second time in three races.
Although the drivers cleared the air afterwards at a briefing that
Rosberg described as 'constructive', newspapers on Tuesday quoted
Hamilton as saying the German should simply have been more
competitive.
"Nico didn't try," he said, repeating the words for effect.
"They said maybe he was just comfortable with second and I said
'well, that's the difference between us. I want to win always'.
"And I would have done everything to get past. Or at least pushed
for three laps. He wasn't quick enough.
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"I want the guy to be up my arse if he's got the pace, up my arse
and putting pressure on me. And if I can't defend it, you lose it."
Rosberg had explained that he risked wrecking his tires by attacking
but Hamilton, who ultimately set the fastest lap of the day, found
support from his Mercedes bosses for his management of the race.
However he came in for more criticism after the celebrations when
pictures showed him spraying the champagne in the face of a hostess
on the podium.
"We think Lewis Hamilton should apologize for his actions and think
carefully about how he behaves in the future," Roz Hardie, chief
executive of anti-sexism campaigners Object, told the Daily Mail
newspaper.
"It is unfortunate that a great victory has been marred by what
appears to be selfish and inconsiderate behavior."
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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