May 28 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton has admitted he and teammate Nico Rosberg cannot afford to crash again and continue to stave off the imposition of team orders.
The reigning triple world champion said it is “cool” that even after taking each other out in Barcelona, Mercedes has left the silver-clad duo free to keep racing wheel-to-wheel.
But when asked if another crash might change the bosses’ minds, Hamilton said in Monaco: “It it was to happen again, for sure.”
How effective the imposition of team orders would be, however, is another matter.
“Ultimately we are hired to race,” said Hamilton. “I don’t think they can tell us not to race. They’d be in a tricky position.
“We are not out there to crash. You want to avoid that at all costs, but we are going to go racing and s— happens.”
Hamilton said the risk of crashes has increased ever since an apparent change of approach by Rosberg late last year.
“I remember I tried going round the outside (in Brazil) and he blocked me,” said the Briton. “I thought ‘Good on you, I would have done exactly the same’. I think from there he’s definitely working harder for position.”