Aston Martin’s Alonso and Ferrari’s Sainz have clashed a couple of times this season, most notably in Australia when 𒁏Sainz tipped Alonso into a spin during a late race restart.

The incidents sparked reports of tension between the pair but both drivers have flatly denied suggestions of a rift and insist their relationship🍰 is stඣrong.

“We know each other for a vꦉery, very long🔯 time,” Alonso said on Thursday ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix.

“We are good friends inside the circuit and outside as well. There🍷 are many stupid things, and this year, because I have a competitive car and we are fighting close together on track… In Spain, we are like this.

“We hav😼e to unfortunately know that the level of journalism in Spain 🐼is low, generally. That’s the way it is. We are not often in Spain unfortunately and we try to avoid our country, unfortunately, for many things.”

Sainzꦗ echoed his fellow countryman’s comments, adding: “I agree. I think you guys can even tell. It’s not like we need to be in a press conference t🔥o prove it or to show it.

“If you look at when we are in the drivers’ parade or around the paddock, you can 🔯just tell t✅he relationship is like it has always been.

“It’s true that this year there’s more competition because we are fighting for similar positions but for me that always stays🙈 on track.

"I know how to separate the track from the outside of the track. I’ve always been good at it, and Fernando has always bee💙n good at it and we are both mature enough to know that.

“We are just going to try and enjoy the moment, because it’s a good moment for F1 in Spain and to spoil it with stupid stuff✱ that mi🃏ght come out, I don’t think it is worth it.

“It’s not worth even giving my atten💞tion or commenting on it, because it’s giving importance or attention to people that just w🙈ants to do something bad.”