Mercedes has confirmed that their drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton will remain free to race without any team orders, following their collision during the Belgian Grand Prix. They have also confirmed that Nico Rosberg has been disciplined by Mercedes after he “acknowledged his responsibility for the contact” with Lewis Hamilton at Spa.

Rosberg made contact with Hamilton on the second lap of the race, causing a puncture for Hamilton, ending the Brit’s race, and ultimately putting their relations under further strain. Rosberg is now also 29 points clear of Hamilton heading in to the Italian Grand Prix.

In a post race interview, Hamilton said that Rosberg had deliberately not backed out of the move and went as far as saying that Rosberg did it to prove a point, while Rosberg maintained that it was a racing incident.

The two were summoned to a meeting with Mercedes chiefs Toto Wolff (who described the incident as “unacceptable”) and Paddy Lowe to discuss the collision at the Belgian Grand Prix and the repercussions.

In a statement issued by the team after the meeting, Mercedes made it clear that it would not be imposing team orders in order to avoid a repeat scenario.

Instead, the team will maintain their policy of allowing Rosberg and Hamilton to battle it out, but stressed that further collisions between the two team mates would not be tolerated. Further, the statement indicated that Rosberg has accepted responsibility for the crash and that he had apologised for the incident.

“During this meeting, Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgement,” the statement read.

The statement went on to say that, “Suitable disciplinary measures have been taken for the incident.”

The full statement reads:

“Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton met today in the boardroom of Mercedes AMG Petronas headquarters in Brackley to discuss the events of the Belgian Grand Prix.

“During this meeting, Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgement.

“Suitable disciplinary measures have been taken for the incident.

“Mercedes-Benz remains committed to hard, fair racing because this is the right way to win world championships. It is good for the team, for the fans and for Formula 1.

“Lewis and Nico understand and accept the team’s number one rule: there must be no contact between the team’s cars on track.

“It has been made clear that another such incident will not be tolerated. But Nico and Lewis are our drivers and we believe in them.

“They remain free to race for the 2014 FIA Formula 1 world championship.”

Photo credit: Mercedes AMG Petronas