Rosberg accuses Hamilton of compromising his race at Chinese Grand Prix

Hamilton won his second race of the season in China on Sunday. Credit: PA

Cracks reappeared between Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg after the German was left fuming by the double world champion's "slow" driving during Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton comfortably brought home a one-two finish for the team at the Shanghai International Circuit, but Rosberg rounded on the 30-year-old in the post-race press conference as their occasionally bitter rivalry reared its head once more.

Rosberg effectively accused Hamilton of selfishness, suggesting he was at times going too slowly and potentially drawing the German into the clutches of Sebastian Vettel's chasing Ferrari.

Asked about the controversy, Hamilton, who took his 35th career victory, said: "I wasn't controlling his race, I was controlling my own race.

"My goal was to look after my car. I had no real threat from Nico throughout the whole race."

The last remark, in particular, was a dig in the ribs for Rosberg who then responded in kind.

A clearly fuming Rosberg said: "It's just now interesting to hear from you Lewis you were just thinking about yourself with the pace in front when that was compromising my race.

"Driving slower than was maybe necessary in the beginning of the stint meant Sebastian was close to me and it opened up the opportunity for Sebastian to try an early pit stop to try and jump me and then I had to cover him.

"It was unnecessarily close with Sebastian as a result, and also it cost me a lot of race time because I had to cover him.

"Then my tyres died at the end of the race because my stint was just so much longer, so I'm unhappy about that."

Asked to respond, Hamilton said: "It's not my job to look after Nico's race, it's my job to manage the car and bring the car home as healthy and as fast as possible.

"That's what I did. I didn't do anything intentionally to slow any of the cars up, I was just focused on myself.

"If Nico wanted to get by he could have tried, but he didn't."

The pair have often been at loggerheads since Mercedes became the dominant force in F1 at the start of 2014.

Tensions peaked after a second-lap clash at last season's Belgian Grand Prix, in which Hamilton suffered a puncture that effectively put him out of the race while Rosberg went on to finish second.