Mercedes-GP said it will continue to let their embattled drivers slug it out for the title without restriction, despite Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton’s seemingly intentional collision at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The German manufacturer yesterday said that Rosberg apologised for the incident and was disciplined by the team, though the sanctions were not disclosed.
Rosberg, who is leading the drivers’ championship by 29 points over his teammate, hit the Briton on the second lap at Spa-Francorchamps on Sunday. Hamilton later retired from the race after picking up a puncture as a consequence of the collision.
Though Rosberg damaged his front wing in the incident, he finished second behind race winner Daniel Ricciardo, extending his lead over Hamilton by 18 points.
Following a meeting between the two drivers and Mercedes officials Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe at the team’s factory in England, the team said: “It has been made clear that another such incident will not be tolerated.
“But Nico and Lewis are our drivers and we believe in them. They remain free to race for the Formula One world championship.”
Rosberg initially described the collision as a “racing incident”. But the bad feelings intensified when Hamilton said that Rosberg admitted in a team meeting that he intentionally initiated contact in order to “prove a point”.
But Rosberg has since had a change of heart according to the team. A Mercedes statement said: “Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgment.
“Suitable disciplinary measures have been taken for the incident ... Lewis and Nico understand and accept the team’s number one rule: there must be no contact between the team’s cars on track.”
The collision came four weeks after the Hungarian Grand Prix, when Hamilton ignored team orders to allow Rosberg to pass him, with the two drivers on different race strategies.
In April, Rosberg complained about Hamilton’s driving in the Bahrain event to the team during the race.
In Monaco, Rosberg went off the track in the final stages of qualifying, causing caution flags that denied his teammate the chance to battle for the pole position the German held.
Rosberg was investigated by the race stewards, but cleared of any wrongdoing later.
There are seven races remaining, with the next round in Italy on September 6.
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