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Nico Rosberg has been told to shut up and do his talking on the track, writes Byron Young in Bahrain.

Jenson Button told German Rosberg piling into a public feud will only make Lewis Hamilton stronger.

The Frome Flyer knows Hamilton better than any other F1 racer after three years together at McLaren.

(Image: PA)

Although the Merc ace notched up more wins, Button scored more points.

While Button’s rivalry with world champion Hamilton was always pretty even Rosberg has scored a single victory in the time Hamilton has notched up eight and his frustration spilled out in Shanghai.

“Talking in the press about something you are unhappy on only makes Lewis stronger,” said Button.

“Lewis is a very competitive individual when his head is in the right place. It is about toppling him in other areas.

(Image: James Moy Photography/Press Association Images)

“Over one lap, I don’t think anyone is quicker, but over a race? Maybe. It is about engineering a way around Lewis to get an edge on him. That is the area where you have to work on.

“You can only rattle him by beating him, and for every race Lewis wins it is going to get worse."

Rosberg slated Hamilton as “selfish” in a strategy that nearly cost the German second place.

Hamilton wins in Shanghai - Best pictures:

“Nico is unhappy and has a right to be, but where can you point the finger?” added the 2009 champion. “I know what it is like when you are fighting at the front and there is so much pressure, sometimes it hurts you and other times it hurts your teammate.”

This Sunday’s Bahrain night race is a return to the scene of last year’s duel which lit the touchpaper on the explosive events that were to follow.

Button added: “Nico might bounce back in the next race. He was strong in Bahrain last year and he might win this weekend and it is all behind him and if he goes on and wins the next races, he could be on a high.

(Image: Getty)

“It is an emotional rollercoaster and trying to understand what it is like being a racing driver is very hard. The pressure is so high. I don’t know what you can compare it to.

“Lewis winning eight out of 10 to Nico’s one, that’s big. I don’t need to say anything….

“When you are fighting at the front, there are going to be spats because you are both in the same car and you both want to win. There are going to be disagreements.

“It is motor racing - qualify in front, so you don’t let it happen. When you are in front, you get the first choice.”