Ross Brawn is adamant the relationship between Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello has not been damaged by the fact the two Brawn GP drivers are battling each other for the world title.

Button won six of the first seven races before struggling for form and that has allowed Barrichello to reduce Button's championship lead to 15 points with just three races remaining this season.

Brawn said: "You don't get the apprentice and master style approach, but this is as good as I've ever seen it in terms of two drivers trying to beat each other in a championship. They are very open and very honest with each other."

There have been suggestions that the fact the two are battling so close for the world title could lead to one withholding information from the other.

But team principal Brawn stressed that no such tactics are taking place and both drivers enjoy an honest and open relationship with each other.

Brawn added: "I can assure you the information is all there on the data screens and each engineer is free to look at the other driver's data," he said.

"I don't think the drivers ever tell each other the nuances of how they brake or steer into a corner. I have never seen that happen before."