Nico Rosberg has revealed he and Lewis Hamilton have 'mended their friendship' amid F1 testing in Bahrain today.
Hamilton is currently in the spotlight amid his final year with the Silver Arrows, having recently confirmed he'd be joining Ferrari in 2025.
The Briton had a tense relationship with Rosberg during their time in F1 together, despite once being friends.
Rosberg beat the Stevenage-born racer to F1 glory in 2016 but then retired from the sport, with many feeling his rivalry with Hamilton had taken a toll on the German.
Lewis Hamilton is in the spotlight amid F1 testing in Bahrain
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High-profile collisions at Spanish and Austrian Grand Prixs fuelled the narrative that they were no longer on good terms.
But Rosberg, speaking prior to F1 testing today, has now revealed they have 'repaired their friendship' - while also revealing Hamilton sends his daughters gifts as Christmas.
Speaking to German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung, Rosberg said: “Lewis and I have repaired our friendship.
“We see each other from time to time. Every Christmas my daughters receive a huge box full of gifts from him.”
Rosberg previously told Eurosport that their hunger to succeed contributed to the pair falling out.
He said: “It [the friendship breakdown] happened immediately when we were fighting for the World Championship, not before.
“But that’s always the case: When you’re fighting for success in every race and for titles, it doesn’t work anymore.
“It was a build-up from one race to the next.
"If you want to decide the world championship for yourself, you can’t play ‘love, peace and harmony’.
“You have to test limits and go into grey areas to win, especially when two drivers are at such a high level. Then it often gets tight.”
Ever since Hamilton's move to Ferrari was confirmed, the 39-year-old has faced scrutiny.
Fernando Alonso has been among the sceptics and recently questioned whether Hamilton was being truthful when he'd dreamed of racing for the Scuderia.
Yet Rosberg has shut down those claims and says he 'understands' why the Briton has opted to change things up.
"It surprised me," he admitted.
"But if you look at the big picture, there are two legendary teams that everyone wants to drive for—Ferrari and Mercedes.
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Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have 'mended their friendship' after previously falling out at Mercedes
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"So I can understand that he is fulfilling a personal dream with this."
Some have called on Rosberg to come out of retirement and race for Mercedes again in the wake of Hamilton's exit.
That's something the F1 champion isn't interested in, however, with the 38-year-old continuing to enjoy retirement.
"It's over," he said. "I'm not planning a comeback.
"I'd have to prepare intensively for a whole year just to train the synapses in the brain again."
Lewis Hamilton is set to drive in Bahrain today as the start of the new F1 season creeps closer
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The first morning session of F1 testing saw Max Verstappen clock up the fastest lap.
The Red Bull star finished ahead of Charles Leclerc, with Alonso in third.
