Mercedes not ready to issue orders - yet

05 July 2016 - 09:34 By Sports staff, agencies

The fallout in the Mercedes team following Sunday's Formula 1 Grand Prix continued yesterday and it centred on "team orders". Team orders were enforced at Ferrari in 2002, when Rubens Barrichello was under instruction to let Michael Schumacher win, even if the Brazilian was in a position to take the chequered flag ahead of the German.But Wolff might have to impose some authority on Hamilton and his other driver, Nico Rosberg.At the very least Wolff might want to order them not to crash into one another. This follows their third collision in five races.Sunday's crash, blamed on Rosberg, came only four races on from their crash in Spain, where both men were forced into retirement on the opening lap.On Sunday, however, Hamilton managed not only to survive the collision, but overtake his arch-rival and teammate and win the Austrian Grand Prix, while Rosberg limped into fourth place.It could easily have been a one-two for Mercedes if Rosberg had not driven into Hamilton's car at a turn just when the British driver was overtaking on the outside.The latest incident has left Mercedes with problems. But Wolff was unwilling to voice an opinion."I am fed up with trying to analyse it," he said soon after the crash.The team boss said he had an opinion on the crash, but refused to share it.Mercedes chairman Nikki Lauda was also coy on the matter."I think, Nico's fault," he said. "Although I have to see it again." Pundits and former F1 drivers who expressed an opinion on the incident were unanimous: Rosberg was to blame this time.Crucially, the stewards agreed. Rosberg, they said, had failed to turn into the corner when he should have; instead he went straight on, hitting Hamilton's car. ..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.