The fallout from the latest chapter in the fight between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg could well spill over to the British Grand Prix this weekend, given that Mercedes have decided against imposing team orders on their drivers despite last weekend’s collision that cost them a one-two finish.
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The move follows their last-lap collision when Hamilton was trying to pass Rosberg for the lead at Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix, their third contact in five races.
Hamilton said he did not feel he and Rosberg had turned the championship into a two horse race.
Wolff admitted that what he was asking of the drivers was “difficult because they drive in a certain way and they are at Mercedes because they are like that”. The Monegasque driver suffered a spin as he got to grips with the rigours of a 2016-specification F1 vehicle for the first time but was a respectable 18th fastest, just ahead of Mercedes protégé Esteban Ocon who completed the session at the wheel of the Renault RS16 in his second FP1 appearance of the season.
“I don’t know, but I would be surprised if Rosberg wasn’t thinking all the time not of Ferrari and Red Bull and Force India and Williams and all the rest, but of his teammate because he knows that Lewis Hamilton is the only person on that grid who has a vehicle that is as good as his”, Channel 4 pundit Walker says. Media speculation has focussed on the possibility of heavy fines, for drivers paid many millions, or even suspension.
“If I answer your question there is the risk that I would do so”. I don’t want to go into the exact written details of the rules of engagement because that is an internal matter.
Instead, Hamilton and Rosberg are under strict instructions to adhere to the new Rules of Engagement with a warning that any incidents will result in punishment.
Asked if the new deterrents are “scary”, a smiling Hamilton replied: ‘I guess I should say yes’.
Earlier this week, Hamilton pleaded with the Mercedes hierarchy not to “rob” the British fans who have paid good money for a ticket by issuing team orders.
Rosberg was blamed by the stewards for causing the crash, which afforded Hamilton the win and saw him limp home in fourth, in Austria. He was hit with a 10-second timed penalty and slapped with two penalty points on his licence, but the German was not in an apologetic mood on Thursday.
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“It is not a question of apologising”, Rosberg said. ‘We have had our discussions, been through it, and together we have come to a conclusion as how best to move forward. We are talking about possible sporting, possible financial consequences and we wouldn’t want to go into detail.
