Lewis Hamilton hopes Mercedes do not impose team orders following collision

Nico Rosberg leaves the stage behind Lewis Hamilton during a press conference for the kickoff of the new Formula 1 season in Fellbach, south-western Germany, on March 11, 2016
© AFP
Lewis Hamilton hopes that Mercedes do not impose team orders at the British GP following last weekend's collision with Nico Rosberg in Austria.

Reigning Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton is keeping his fingers crossed that Mercedes do not impose team orders following his collision with Nico Rosberg in Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes teammates clashed for the second time in five races during the GP, which eventually ended in victory for Hamilton.

Team boss Toto Wolff and his colleagues are planning to discuss whether or not to enforce firmer rules on the drivers ahead of this weekend's British GP at Silverstone.

Hamilton, though, believes that team orders would damage the competitiveness for spectators and referred to the 2002 Austrian GP as an example - Ferrari ordered leader Rubens Barrichello to allow teammate Michael Schumacher through in the final lap.

"I want to race," Sky Sports News quotes Hamilton as saying. "I grew up wanting to race. I wanted to get to Formula 1 and race the best and be the best by outdriving another individual. I think they showed a replay of Michael and Barrichello many years ago - and I was disappointed as a fan back then. We never want to see team orders like that ever happen.

"The great thing is that Toto and Niki [Lauda] have been great these last three years and allowed us to race and that's what racing is about. We are driving at 200-plus miles an hour. You expect us to drive around and never, ever have a problem? I doubt it. So I hope that it doesn't change and we can continue to race. That's just my honest opinion from a love of this sport."

Hamilton is now just 11 points behind championship leader Rosberg.

Nico Rosberg in action at the Spanish GP on May 14, 2016
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