Mercedes braced for team orders ruling after Hamilton/Rosberg clash
The Mercedes Formula 1 squad will wait until there have been fresh talks with Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton this week before deciding whether to now impose team orders
With chiefs furious that the outfit lost victory at the Belgian Grand Prix when Rosberg and Hamilton clashed on lap two, there is a high chance that its policy of leaving the duo free to fight each other may change.
Niki Lauda, the team's non-executive chairman, feels Rosberg was to blame for what happened, and thinks Mercedes must respond in a way that prevents any repeat.
"It was completely unnecessary, but the real criticism I have is that it was on the second lap that they hit each other," he said.
"From what I've seen in the pictures Nico was at fault because Lewis was in the lead and he clipped his rear tyre with his front wing.
"But we can sort things out. People make mistakes and it's part of our lives, and we have to analyse it properly. We have to get Nico's opinion and then we have to correct this so it never happens again in that stupid way."
| MERCEDES INTRA-TEAM WAR |
| Hamilton: Rosberg said clash deliberate |
| Wolff: Rosberg was misinterpreted |
| Rosberg calls clash a racing incident |
 |
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff thinks it important that the emotions of the day calm down before a game plan is decided.
"I think it would be wrong 45 minutes after the end of the race to say 'this is what we're going to do'," he explained.
"I'm extremely upset about what's happened. But not about the fact that two cars have crashed into each other, I'm very upset because we've defined rules all together and we've broken those rules.
"And I feel let down. Whoever it would have been, Lewis or Nico, I feel let down and the team has been let down.
"This is why we really have to analyse properly how we can do it better.
"Obviously we have the tools to interfere. But this is not the right way. We have to sit them down, and for them to be part of the discussion about how to avoid this happening again."
When asked if imposing team orders from now on was likely, he said: "That's to be decided. If we really want to do that, it would be disappointing for all of us, but we need to get on top of the situation and we haven't figured out what that means.
"Lots of things we've discussed already, but within 60 minutes you don't come up with a clever strategy that's good enough."
Share Or Save This Story
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Jon Noble: An unfair perception or a genuine concern? Lifting the lid on Red Bull’s Tsunoda scepticism
Does Mexico have a Turn 1 problem?
Rosberg: Antonelli can become "best of next generation", but F1 preparation not ideal
Why Bottas won't emulate Rosberg to beat Hamilton
How Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
Antonelli angry at "unnecessary" Azerbaijan GP qualifying crash
How the chase to catch Mercedes is unfolding
What’s behind Norris’ top-speed issue in Baku – and why McLaren itself is down on Mercedes
Verstappen reveals why Red Bull's engine problem in Baku was different than it seemed
How Russell claimed his career-best pole margin in F1 Azerbaijan GP qualifying
Hamilton frustrated after late Ferrari qualifying strategy change: ‘I towed Charles the whole time’
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments