Hamilton & Rosberg free to race 29 | 08 | 2014

    MERCEDES HAS CONFIRMED both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will remain free to race in their battle for 2014 Formula 1 title glory. The announcement was made today following key talks at the Mercedes factory in Brackley.

    Both drivers had been summoned to a meeting with Mercedes chiefs Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe to discuss the embarrassing clash they had at the Belgian Grand Prix last weekend.

    Mercedes made it clear in a statement issued by the team afterwards that it would not be imposing team orders to avoid a repeat scenario.

    Thankfully, the team's policy of allowing Rosberg and Hamilton to battle it out will remain in place, although it stressed that further collisions would not be tolerated.

    It also emerged that Rosberg accepted blame for the crash with Hamilton, and apologised. The team has also taken unspecified disciplinary action against the German.

    "Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton met today in the boardroom of Mercedes AMG Petronas headquarters in Brackley to discuss the events of the Belgian Grand Prix," the statement issued by the team today said.

    "During this meeting, Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgement.

    "Suitable disciplinary measures have been taken for the incident.

    "Mercedes-Benz remains committed to hard, fair racing because this is the right way to win world championships. It is good for the team, for the fans and for Formula 1.

    Related: Ricciardo wins — Mercedes duo clash

    "Lewis and Nico understand and accept the team's number one rule: there must be no contact between the team's cars on track.

    "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 2014 FIA Formula 1 world championship."

    And afterwards, in a statement posted on his official website, Hamilton stressed the situation between the two drivers was far from impossible to manage.

    "There is a deep foundation that still exists for me and Nico to work from, in spite of our difficult times and differences," the former world champ stated.

    "We have the greatest team, and the strongest group of individuals who have worked their hands to the bone to give us the best car you see us racing today.

    "It's important we never forget that and give them the results they deserve.

    "Nico and I accept we have both made mistakes and I feel it would be wrong to point fingers and say which one is worse than the other.

    "What's important is how we rise as a team from these situations. We win and we lose together and, as a team, we will emerge stronger."

    Rosberg heads to Monza in a week for the Italian Grand Prix 29 points clear of Hamilton in the drivers' championship.

    Related: BTCC dazzles in the Knockhill sun

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    Jim McGill

     

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