Mercedes F1 team warned against 'overreactions'

Tensions have ramped up at the front of the F1 grid over the last few races, with Hamilton angering Rosberg by refusing an order to let him past during the closing stages of July's Hungarian Grand Prix.

Rosberg was disciplined by Mercedes for colliding with Hamilton on the second lap of the following race in Belgium and puncturing his team-mate's rear tyre.

Four-time world champion Prost, whose bitter rivalry with Ayrton Senna began when they were team-mates at McLaren in the late-1980s, said Mercedes risked destabilising its team if it continues to 'overreact' to flashpoints in the title battle.

"I don't think the team has done 100 per cent right," Prost, who is now an ambassador for engine manufacturer Renault, told AUTOSPORT.

"In Hungary, the [team orders] message, that was not 100 per cent right. And I don't think they went 100 per cent right also at Spa.

"Spa is a good example of what can happen, and I know the situation very well.

"They should react only considering the fact and not considering the consequences.

"The consequence was very bad - they lost a race that they should not lose, and for Lewis it was very bad.

"That's the consequence. But the fact is almost nothing - it's just a misjudgement.

"You cannot do that on purpose because you know there is a much better chance to break your front wing and not cause a puncture.

"That is stupid what I read, 'he has done it on purpose' - it's really absolutely impossible.

"But then they [the team] overreact and everybody overreact. That is the risk of this kind of situation.

"Very often it is not coming from the drivers themselves, but from outside, and I was very surprised that [Mercedes motorsport boss] Toto [Wolff] and Niki [Lauda] - they almost attacked Nico.

"That could destabilise the situation.

"Until now they have done no mistakes in my opinion. Now it's going to be much more difficult."

DRIVERS CAN RECONCILE

Prost believes the relationship between Rosberg and Hamilton can survive the tensions of the title fight, as long as the team handles the situation in the right way.

"I think they can be OK; the most important thing is the team - they should not make any clear judgement, and the team has to stay equal for both," Prost added.

"People outside, it could be friends, managers, media, that creates the problems, and for sure it's very fragile, but I think they can be OK."