Mercedes are trying to control their feuding drivers Lewis Hamilton, left, and Nico Rosberg. CHRIS WATTIE/REUTERS
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg could be fined or even suspended by
Mercedes if they crash again under drastic deterrents being considered
by the world champions in a bid to avoid imposing team orders.
Hamilton
will plead with Mercedes not to "rob" fans by forcing them to obey team
orders in next Sunday's (Monday NZ time) British Grand Prix, with
executives fearing they may have to unleash the nightmare scenario on
Formula One to control their feuding drivers.
However, the
alternative punishment, understood to be one of the options under
consideration, could be even worse news for Hamilton. It
is understood increasingly exasperated team bosses feel they have been
left with no choice but to act firmly and decisively after Hamilton and
Rosberg collided for the third time in five races in Austria on Sunday
(Monday NZT).
DOMINIC EBENBICHLER/REUTERS
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads the pack.
This could include either a sporting penalty – the ultimate sanction
being to take one or both drivers out of the car – or a financial one, a
fine worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. How exactly the system
would work when there is no clear culprit for a collision, which was not
the case on Sunday with Rosberg penalised by the stewards, remains
unclear.
Toto
Wolff, the head of Mercedes motorsport, was absolutely livid on Sunday
night, and seemed at the end of his tether with his "brainless" drivers.
Team
orders would be a PR disaster in front 140,000 British fans,
reminiscent of the worst days of Ferrari in the early 2000s, which is
likely to be why other more extreme alternatives are being considered.
The
decision will be taken in the coming days, principally by Wolff along
with Niki Lauda, the three-time champion and Mercedes chairman, and
Paddy Lowe, the technical boss. Dieter Zetsche, the chairman of
Mercedes, will be kept in the loop but is expected to leave the decision
itself to Wolff.
Hamilton was at pains not to put himself at odds
with the team as he left Spielberg, but he will use all his powers of
persuasion to try to stop Mercedes implementing team orders, something
which is at odds with everything he stands for as a racing driver.
He
is likely to feel especially aggrieved given the overwhelming
consensus, and the verdict of the stewards, that Rosberg was the guilty
party in their last-lap crash in Austria last Sunday, one which gave
Hamilton victory.
"I didn't come into this to be in that situation [team orders], so I
will pray and hope that's not the situation," the three-time champion
said. "Firstly for myself because that would take the joy out of racing
and second for the fans because it will rob the fans of what they pay so
much for."
Many believe Hamilton would ignore team orders if they
were imposed in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, including Damon Hill,
the 1996 world champion.
But Hamilton was by no means
categorical. While the 31-year-old said Mercedes employed him to race -
on a deal worth £100 million over three years – he also indicated he
would listen should the order come. There will be a clause in his
contract which states he cannot go directly against the wishes of the
team, but drivers have ignored direct orders before, most memorably
Sebastian Vettel in Malaysia three years ago.
Hamilton added: "I've been in that position before [team orders] and
it goes against all my racing values and rules and the foundation of
what racing is about. But ultimately I race for this team and I do want
the best for the team. I'm the three-time world champion and my job is
to do what they say.
"I feel like I have the right to say my
opinion regardless of the boss. You can talk to anyone on that level
with respect so I would tell them, just like I'm talking to you, I would
have an opinion that needs discussion whether that's with Dieter
[Zetsche, the chairman of Mercedes] or they could have that respect."
Hamilton
was critical of Wolff's description of the incident as "brainless",
without the Austrian explicitly blaming one driver. The Englishman felt
it was important the team projected themselves properly to their 1,300
employees back in Northamptonshire and the wider world.
Should
Mercedes introduce team orders, against their policy of the last three
years, Hamilton would have no choice but to qualify on pole position and
make sure he gets away in the lead, unless he ignored the instruction.
At least now after the result in Austria the gap in the drivers'
championship is back down to just 11 points.
CRASHES:
Spain:
Hamilton and Rosberg failed to even make it through four corners before
they took each other out of in Barcelona. Rosberg defended
aggressively, forcing his team-mate onto the grass. Hamilton lost
control, hitting Rosberg and sending both out of the race. Verdict: too
close to call
Canada: Heading into turn one, Hamilton and Rosberg
were side by side. The German took the riskier move, heading for the
outside, and Hamilton slid into his team-mate, banging wheels. Rosberg
fell down the field. Verdict: racing incident
Austria: They made
it to the final lap but heading towards turn two, Rosberg barely
attempted turn in, spearing into the side of his team-mate. Hamilton won
the race while Rosberg limped home fourth. The stewards punished the
German. Verdict: 100 per cent Rosberg
CREDIT TO:http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport/81772307/feuding-brainless-drivers-lewis-hamilton-nico-rosberg-face-suspensions-fines
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