Jean-Eric Vergne says he is no longer friends with Daniel Ricciardo as the competition between the team-mates has grown.
The Toro Rosso drivers used to be friends, however, after joining the same squad last season the friendship slowly fizzled out.
"I don't know if it's because we are in F1 or he thinks he has definitely beaten me that we cannot have any relationship, but, no, we don't see each other away from the track and we are not friends," Vergne told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"But to be absolutely honest, I don't mind. He's a good guy. We are both clever people.
"I have absolutely no problem with it because when it comes to the time when we need to work together to improve the car and to move the team forward, we can do this. We have a good working relationship.
"I don't care about going on holiday with my team-mate. I have my friends and I have enough of them and I don't need any more."
But while they are rivals and very competitive against each other, Ricciardo was quick to point out that they are not enemies.
"We've never come to blows or anything like that," said the Australian. "There's never been a moment which has separated the friendship - it's just grown apart with competition.
"I imagine we're probably like most other team-mates. We don't really talk away from the track. We're just doing our own thing. I think it's how it should be as well.
"I think when you're direct rival with someone, you want to have your own space. I think it would be sort of hard to have a true friendship because at the end of the day, we're fighting for maybe one spot and there can't be any conservative approach about it.
"So I think it's good that we keep our distance. We're very competitive and that's how it should be."
