LEWIS HAMILTON was booed on the podium after a last-lap collision with Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg handed the triple Formula One world champion a dramatic first Austrian Grand Prix victory Sunday.

    Championship leader Rosberg, who had been chasing an Austrian hat trick after wins in 2014 and 2015, nursed his damaged car over the line for fourth place with his advantage cut to 11 points.

    “I am gutted, it’s unbelievable,” said the German, accusing Hamilton of turning in and causing the accident that broke his front wing as the slow-burning race suddenly exploded into controversy and acrimony.

    Hamilton disagreed — and so did the stewards who gave Rosberg a meaningless post-race 10-second time penalty for causing the collision and a reprimand for continuing with a damaged car.

    “I was on the outside, it wasn’t me that had the crash,” said the Briton, who now has three wins to Rosberg’s five this season, over the team radio.

    After nine of the season’s 21 races, Rosberg has 153 points to Hamilton’s 142.

    Mercedes boss Toto Wolff described the collision as “brainless,” without singling out either of his drivers for blame, and told reporters he might have to consider imposing so-called “team orders” in future.

    “I’m fed up with trying to analyze it,” he told reporters after the latest in a series of clashes between the drivers in a championship they dominate.

    “I just don’t want any contact (between them) any more. Collisions between teammates is a no-go for everyone.”

    The team revealed Rosberg had suffered a problem with his brake-by-wire system which went into “passive mode” at the end of the penultimate lap while Hamilton closed in on fresher tires.

    Dutch teenager Max Verstappen finished second for Red Bull at their home track, with Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen third after teammate Sebastian Vettel crashed out.

    (SD-Agencies)