SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - All the griping and complaints from McLaren drivers seem to have disappeared just before Sunday's decisive Brazilian Grand Prix.

Both Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso downplayed any possible rifts between them Thursday, saying they were overblown by the media.

"The media said many, many things about us that weren't true," Alonso said at a news conference. "We never had problems between each other. We are fighting on the track, but outside the track we had a very good relationship from day one and it's still the same."

Hamilton agreed with Alonso.

"I think (our relationship) is as good as ever. I think we have got on quite well all year, despite what the media says," Hamilton said. "They always try to make a big gap between us and they haven't really succeeded."

Alonso trails his teammate by four points entering the season finale in Brazil. Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen is seven points back from Hamilton and also in contention.

Earlier this year, Alonso had complained he wasn't getting the respect he deserved as a two-time world champion. He hinted that McLaren - an English team - was favoring the rookie Briton.

The relationship between the drivers deteriorated over the season, and the team acknowledged there was 'competitive tension' between them.

McLaren chief Ron Dennis admitted recently he wasn't talking to Alonso, and the team later was forced to announce that it will treat the drivers 'with complete equality' in Brazil.

Just to make sure, Formula One governing body FIA appointed an official to watch closely whether McLaren favors any of its drivers.

Not even Alonso was pleased with the measure.

"I probably don't agree with that decision, but it's not up to us," the Spaniard said. "I think if they decide to do that it's OK, but we don't need anything like that in the garage."