Mercedes F1 rule out team orders for Hamilton and Rosberg

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will be free to race for the remainder of the Formula One season, Mercedes have said in a statement.

Hamilton and Rosberg, who crashed on the final lap of the Austrian Grand Prix, were hauled in front of Mercedes bosses Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe at the team's Brackley headquarters for crisis talks on Thursday.

A furious Wolff had threatened to impose team orders following their third collision in five races, but Rosberg and Hamilton, who the German leads by 11 points heading into Sunday's British Grand Prix, are now set to continue their battle on the track.

Mercedes did stress, however, that team orders could still be used as a "last resort".