Lewis Hamilton insists he can continue to work with team-mate Nico Rosberg despite their “difficult times and differences” during the 2014 season.
The Briton recently admitted he doubted he could trust Rosberg going forward following their Belgian Grand Prix coming together, but following a crisis meeting on Friday, he has changed his mind.
“Today we came together as a team and discussed our differences,” he said.
“Nico and I accept that we have both made mistakes and I feel it would be wrong to point fingers and say which one is worse than the other. What’s important is how we rise as a team from these situations. We win and we lose together and, as a team, we will emerge stronger.
“There is a deep foundation that still exists for me and Nico to work from, in spite of our difficult times and differences. We have the greatest team, the strongest group of individuals who have worked their hands to the bone to give us the best car you see us racing today. It’s important that we never forget that and give them the results they deserve. Today, Toto and Paddy told us clearly how we must race against each other from now on in a fair and respectful manner.”
The team has told them they can continue to fight freely without team orders, but despite this Hamilton admits he has a tough challenge ahead to fight back from a 29-point deficit.
“The fans want to see a clean fight until the end of the season and that’s what we want to give them. It’s going to be a tough road from here but Championships have been won from much further back than I am now. And I promise you that I will be giving everything and more to win this for my team, for my family and for my fans.”