JUNE 3, 2016

More crashes could mean team orders says Wolff

Toto Wolff has warned that more crashes between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg would cause Mercedes to rethink its policy of allowing the pair to race freely.

Toto Wolff has warned that more crashes between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg would cause Mercedes to rethink its policy of allowing the pair to race freely.

World champion Hamilton said after Barcelona, where on the first lap he collided with teammate Rosberg in a race-ending crash involving both drivers, that Mercedes' decision to not change its policy about letting them race was "cool".

But team boss Wolff has now told Sport Bild: "Should it happen again, we have the option of introducing a team order."

The Austrian said he was happy, however, that in the race after Barcelona - last weekend's Monaco grand prix - Rosberg and Hamilton were playing together nicely.

Indeed, championship leader Rosberg even pulled over to let Hamilton past when he was struggling for pace, contributing to the Briton winning the race.

"We only waved Lewis past because Nico was clearly having problems with his car," Wolff said.

"But I can only take my hat off to Nico that he allowed the team to take the victory," he added.

(GMM)