Mercedes duo free to race

(Mercedes AMG Formula One Team)

Mercedes AMG F1 Team's Director of Engineering Paddy Lowe has confirmed that their driver's Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg are free to race each other after a titantic battle between the pair in Bahrain on Sunday which saw the pair secure the team's second consecutive 1-2 finish with Lewis Hamilton coming home ahead of Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes have been utterly dominat so far this season winning the three opening Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg won in Australia while Lewis Hamilton was forced to retire. Hamilton won in Malaysia while Rosberg finished 2nd likewise in Bahrain. The German heads to China with an eleven point lead over Lewis Hamilton. Lowe commented:

'Imagine if we had imposed team orders from lap two, what a terrible thing that would be for Formula One and the philosophy of Mercedes motorsport," he said. "It's something that we base ourselves on and the sport is about, but it's also about the drivers. They are great drivers and professionals and you want to give them the opportunity to race, which is what they do'

The Mercedes duo were the front running team throughout the race weekend at the Sakhir circuit and the Brackley based team have opted to run both race driver's at this week's in-season test in Bahrain 

today and tomorrow. Nico Rosberg in action on Tuesday before handing the W05 over to Lewis Hamilton.

Lowe admitted that the team did not expect the open policy where both sides of the garage shared information. The team are currently 67 point's ahead of Force India who are in second in the Constructor's championship so whatever happens at the next race in China the Brackley squad will stat the European leg of the 2014 season, the Spanish Grand Prix leading the Constructors championship.

It is far too early in the season to be imposing team orders as we are heading to the fourth race of the season so Mercedes are completely right to allow their drivers to race each other and as the pair showed on Sunday they are fair when it comes to racing and they give each other space on track.

©Ben Johnston 2014