Mercedes ‘to push back’ team orders until necessary

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has revealed the team discussed its options on team orders at the Italian Grand Prix but explains how it did not use them at Monza to see Lewis Hamilton claim victory and extend his Formula 1 world championship lead.

After contact between Hamilton and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel on the opening lap in Italy sent the German into a spin, Mercedes boss Wolff says team strategy rather than team orders became key to victory in Monza.

Wolff explained the long opening stint by Bottas ensured he had fresher tyres to attack Max Verstappen late on to take the final podium place, which he gained following the Red Bull driver’s time penalty after the pair clashed at Turn 1, and wasn’t pulled off purely to hold up Raikkonen.

Following Raikkonen’s pit stop the Finn quickly closed up behind his fellow countryman which enabled Hamilton to eat into the time gap before producing his late race pass to clinch victory.

“Valtteri’s strategy not only worked for Lewis with keeping Kimi behind, but it also worked for Valtteri,” Wolff said. “We knew that we had to keep him out long because we lost a position already to Verstappen.

“We needed to keep him out long to create the largest possible tyre offset at the end of the race. Keeping him out was his best shot of the podium.”

With talk around team orders increasing as the F1 world title battle intensifies, Wolff is eager to avoid using them for as long as possible to give both his drivers fair opportunities but concedes it will be reviewed at the next round in Singapore.

“I don’t really like team orders, they are not cool, not good for the sport or for either driver,” he said.

“Lewis doesn’t want to have anything gifted and Valtteri doesn’t want to give anything up.

“We are looking at it from race-to-race. We discussed it this morning, various scenarios and there was no necessity today. We will see what happens in Singapore. I want to push that moment back as far as possible.”