Bahrain GP: Mercedes says using team orders would have been wrong

Mercedes says not allowing Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to race each other wheel-to-wheel in the Bahrain Grand Prix would have been the wrong thing for Formula 1

Hamilton and Rosberg were locked in a thrilling fight for victory at Sakhir, with their bosses electing not to impose team orders despite the advantage their men had over the rest of the field.

Report: Hamilton wins thrilling Bahrain Grand Prix

Mercedes executive director Paddy Lowe said after the 1-2 finish that there had been no thought given to calling the battle off - or doing anything other than allowing both men to keep racing.

"Imagine if we had imposed team orders from lap two or something - what a terrible thing that would be for F1 and for the philosophy of Mercedes in motorsport," Lowe said.

"It is something that we owe to ourselves; we owe to the sport and owe to the drivers.

"They are professionals and you want to give them the opportunity to race, which is what they do."

Rosberg did better job - Hamilton

Hamilton and Rosberg's fight was often intense, with the pair swapping positions at Turn 1 numerous times throughout the race.

And although there were moments when it seemed there was a risk of their fight getting out of control and the pair crashing, Lowe said he always had faith that the situation would not end in tears.

"To be honest, I didn't get overly stressed about it because I know they are great professionals," he said.

"They are experienced drivers, they know what it takes. I gave them a little bit of a reminder during the safety car that it is all about bringing the car home.

"But that didn't mean don't race - it just meant there is a line not to cross which is if you endanger the car. They did a perfect job of that."