Hamilton: Warning won’t change anything

Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his view that Mercedes' warning following his latest on track collision with team-mate Nico Rosberg "won't change anything" moving forward.

Hamilton and Rosberg crashed on the final lap of the Austrian Grand Prix while battling for the lead of the race, with Hamilton going on to win, and Rosberg limping home fourth.

Rosberg, whose title lead over Hamilton was cut to 11 points, picked up a time penalty, reprimand and penalty points for his role in the incident and continuing with a damaged car.

Mercedes called a meeting at its factory in Brackley on Thursday, ahead of the British Grand Prix, and opted to keep its 'free to race' policy in place, albeit with "greater deterrents" to contact.

"In all honesty, I think our destiny has always been in our hands," explained Hamilton, when asked about the situation during Thursday's pre-race press conference at Silverstone.

"It [the warning] doesn't really change anything. We're still able to race which is a positive. No team orders, which i think is great for the fans, so I think everyone should be excited."

Asked on the details of the conversation at Mercedes' base, Hamilton added: "Everything that's been said is private and confidential, but we're still able to race.

"In all of those races, the stewards deemed it racing."

Rosberg, meanwhile, maintained that while he respected the stewards' decision to penalize him, he did not "agree fully", though has vowed to move on.

"It's not black and white, definitely," he said.

"I respect the stewards' decision. For sure, it's fully respected. They came to that decision as a group. But that doesn't mean I have to agree fully with it."

He added: "It's in the past now and now I begin.

"After speaking to you guys [the media], you are bringing me right back, it's fully focused on what's in front this weekend; I'm here because I want to win the race."

Rosberg also played down the impact of the incident on his contract talks.

"It doesn't have an impact on those. Not at all," he insisted.

"Why? It's a momentary thing which doesn't have an impact on the long-term happiness of the team, and I'm looking forward to racing many more years here."