Lewis Hamilton defiant over Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton has shrugged off Nico Rosberg’s threat that he is feeling back to his best — insisting that is still not good enough to beat him.

Reigning world champion Hamilton has enjoyed a fine start to his title defence, winning three of the opening four races and finishing second to Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia.

That gives him a 27-point lead over Mercedes team-mate Rosberg — the man with whom he was enveloped in a bitter title tussle for much of 2014.

Hamilton came out on top in that battle and is not worried by Rosberg’s suggestion he is ready to get his 2015 campaign on track with a strong showing at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Asked what he thought of Rosberg saying he was ready to put together a perfect weekend, Hamilton bullishly replied: “If he is saying he brought his best game last year then I don’t really have too much to worry about.”

With Hamilton at ease both in the car and out, his rivals could be dealt another blow if he takes the chequered flag at the Circuit de Catalunya tomorrow.

He was within a tenth of a second of Rosberg as the German topped the timesheet after free practice one but was untouchable in the afternoon session — clocking a time 0.408 seconds faster than second-placed Vettel.