Russian GP: Hamilton Explains Controversial Move, Vettel Defends Mercedes Team Order

Lewis Hamilton extended his lead over Sebastian Vettel in the Drivers’ championship to 50 points with his fifth win in six races at the Russian Grand Prix on Sunday, but it came under controversial circumstances after Mercedes used team orders to bring him to the checkered flag ahead of teammate Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn qualified on pole position and retained the lead at the start of the race as Hamilton came under pressure from Vettel, who started in third behind the two Mercedes cars.

It remained that way till the first round of pit stops until Ferrari got the jump on Hamilton after trying the undercut and came out in between the two Mercedes cars. The British racer immediately attacked Vettel and got back second place to continue trailing his teammate.

It was then that Mercedes decided they needed more of a buffer for the championship contender and instructed Bottas to allow Hamilton to pass at Turn 13. The Finnish racer obliged and pulled aside immediately to allow his teammate through.

Bottas was clearly not a happy camper after the race as Hamilton ran to console his teammate immediately after getting out of his car at parc ferme. The four-time world champion was also not at his joyous best after taking his eighth win of the season after admitting it did not come in ideal circumstances.

But Hamilton made it clear it was a move that was done with the championship in mind as they could not risk losing it by allowing Vettel to reduce the deficit in case of a potential tire issue, which was the season given by the team at the time of the team order.

“It is actually quite a difficult day because Valtteri did a fantastic job all weekend and he was a real gentleman to let me by,” Hamilton said after the race, as per Planet F1. “Obviously he is not fighting for the championship, whereas we are.”

“It has just been such a great weekend for the team. The team have done such a great job to give us such an advantage on Ferrari and have a 1-2.

“Usually, we would be elated but I can understand how difficult it was for Valtteri but really he did a fantastic job and he deserved to win, but championship-wise, as a team we are trying to win both championships,” he added. “I think today was a real team effort. Whilst it doesn’t feel spectacular, I know he is going to do great in races to come.”

A number of questions were raised about the nature of the move, especially since Bottas was yet to win a race this season, and Hamilton already had a comfortable 40 point lead coming into the race in Russia. But Mercedes got an unlikely backer as Vettel defended their move suggesting that it a “no-brainer.”

“Well done to both of them, they played together as a team very well,” Vettel, who finished in third place, said during the post-race press conference.

“In their defence, all the questions – I know you guys love controversy so therefore ask naughty questions to them as individuals, but I think in the position they are it’s a no-brainer what they did today,” the Ferrari driver added. “Maybe not all the questions are justified.”