Formula One: Peace and light in the Mercedes camp

Nico Rosberg (left) and Lewis Hamilton are old mates again. Picture / AP

The last time Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg shared a stage, it was on the eve of their title showdown in Abu Dhabi, with the body language strained and the mind games painfully apparent.

But at Mercedes-Benz's annual celebration, they were back to being the friends of old.
Following the tumult of their championship tussle, all is calm between these two long-time rivals. After a whirlwind week of television interviews and radio appearances following his second championship, Hamilton spoke of a pressure release after he crossed the line in the desert.

The 29-year-old also appeared to commit himself to the team for the long term, rebuffing any overtures from Ferrari which are bound to come next season, with Kimi Raikkonen in the final year of his contract.

"I'm really happy with the way the year went," Hamilton said at Mercedes' 'Stars & Cars' event at their museum in Stuttgart.

"I wouldn't change it for the world, even the low moments. I came out stronger in the end. I'm glad things happened the way they did.

"Even though we had difficult times this year we came out strong. We had a filming day the other day and all the tension from the season disappears, and you go back to being two normal individuals. You go back to talking about normal things; things that guys talk about."

On Saturday Sebastian Vettel drove a Ferrari for the first time at the team's famed Fiorano test circuit, but Hamilton claimed the allure of the stricken Italian team did not have a great hold over him.

He added: "As to what happens in the future - I can't really see myself anywhere but here. To be honest I never had dreams of driving the Ferrari.

"Of course the car looks nice in red but I can buy Mercedes cars in red ..."

Of course, all drivers say this, and while Mercedes are dominant, there is no temptation to leave. Rosberg, meanwhile, knows he was fairly beaten and has quickly refocused his energies to 2015.

The German said: "There are things from the year I would do differently, of course. That's natural. But regrets? No. Because it's often in the difficult moments you learn the most.

"I fought until the very end. It was a great experience. I had the test on Tuesday so I'm already focused on 2015. It's an awesome challenge. Lewis' level is extremely high. This year he was the best driver on the grid. I look forward to that battle again next year."

-Telegraph Group Ltd