New strategy in play at Mercedes regarding team orders however Hamilton and Rosberg still free to race

(Mercedes AMG F1 Team)

Mercedes motorsport director Toto Wolff has confirmed that following the events of the Hungarian Grand Prix where Lewis Hamilton refused to allow team mate Nico Rosberg past that the Brackley based outfit have introduced a new team orders strategy that will be in place for the rest of the season.

Under the terms of what has been described as a new 'code of conduct' if the driver's find themselves battling each other the one following the lead driver will have to prove to the team that he is the faster of the two.

Nico Rosberg started the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole position while team mate Lewis Hamilton started the race from the pit-lane. Hamilton did a great job to make his way through the field and thanks to a counter strategy to his team mate was able to get ahead of Rosberg and stay ahead of him to finish on the podium behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and race winner Infiniti Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo.

Following the race Mercedes non executive chairman Niki Lauda admitted that the team had 'panicked' when they asked Hamilton to allow Rosberg past him. The Austrian backed Hamilton's decision to ignore the call from the Mercedes pit-wall.

Following the result in Hungary Lewis Hamilton has now closed the gap in the championship to eleven points. 

© Ben Johnston 2014