Lewis Hamilton will head into his home British Grand Prix praying for the sake of the fans that angry Mercedes bosses continue to allow him and teammate Nico Rosberg to race each other freely.

The pair collided on the last lap in Austria on Sunday, with Mercedes Formula One team head Toto Wolff threatening to impose team orders – making them hold position in the closing stages – after what he called a “brainless” accident.

A 140,000-strong crowd is expected at Silverstone on Sunday with most cheering on Hamilton who won last year.

“You could go to Silverstone and be told ‘Don’t move’. That would be the worst,” Hamilton said after winning Sunday’s race while Rosberg limped home fourth in a damaged car and had his overall lead cut to 11 points.

“I didn’t come into this to be in that situation,” added the triple Formula One world champion who said team orders went against all his racing values.

“I will pray and hope that’s not the situation, firstly for myself because that would take the joy of racing out and second for the fans because it will rob the fans of what they pay so much for.”

Hamilton said real racing was the reason why fans were so passionate about the sport, spending hours in muddy campsites and handing over hard-earned cash to buy merchandise.

The champion recognised emotions were running high but suggested “brainless” might not have been the best word for Wolff to use.