Monday cover: Mercedes-GP rubbed the wrong way as Rosberg and Hamilton clash in Austria

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton go toe-to-toe on The National Sport front page on Monday, July 4 during the dramatic Austrian Grand Prix.

The common sight of a Mercedes-GP 1-2 finishing a Formula One race was incredibly scuppered when the two teammates — and title rivals — collided on the final lap at the Red Bull Ring. The incident saw Rosberg, who prior to the race was leading Hamilton by 24 points in the drivers’ championship, fall back to finish fourth as Hamilton went on to win, but not before a stewards’ inquiry into the collision.

Hamilton escaped punishment and retained his victory as the stewards found Rosberg the guilty party, handing the German a 10 second penalty, although it did not affect his final place. Rosberg’s championship lead is now just 11 points.

The collision prompted Mercedes chief, Toto Wolff, to warn his two drivers that team orders could be implemented to prevent such episodes happening in future.

Mercedes have generally avoided the use of team orders and allowed Rosberg and Hamilton to duel. The National's Formula One expert, Graham Caygill, urges Mercedes to resist the urge of team orders to keep the rivalry of their two drivers alive.

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