Mercedes explains German GP F1 team orders, Bottas accepts call

Mercedes Formula 1 boss Toto Wolff says the prospect of throwing away a one-two finish prompted the decision to impose team orders on Valtteri Bottas at the German Grand Prix. 

Having recovered through the field from 14th on the grid, Lewis Hamilton found himself in the lead of the race after staying out on track after Sebastian Vettel crashed out as rain fell and teammate Bottas dived into the pitlane. 

On fresher Ultrasoft tyres, Bottas challenged Hamilton following the subsequent Safety Car restart but the Briton held firm, before Bottas received instruction to hold his position as Hamilton pulled clear to claim a remarkable win. 

The result sees Hamilton move into a 17-point championship lead over title rival Sebastian Vettel, while Mercedes have moved back ahead of Ferrari in the constructors’ standings. 

“In terms of making the call later in the race when they started to be all over each other at the restart, fair enough it was raining at places and it was still humid but we had so much bad luck in the last couple of races that the scenario of losing a car or two was just something that I didn’t want to even envisage,” Wolff said.

Wolff refuted suggestions that Mercedes now has a clear number one and two driver within the team, adding he would have made the call regardless of which driver was in front.

“I would have done the same thing the other way around,” he insisted. “I think this is the transparency we have in the team that it would make no difference. 

“It was important to score the double podium, the one-two, to recover some of the points we lost through bad luck. It was about bringing him home, irrespective of who is in front.”

Bottas admitted in the immediate aftermath of the race that he understood and accepted the decision, despite being disappointed he was unable to take the win. 

“We had a bit of a battle lap one after the Safety Car with Lewis, I didn't get past then and I got told to minimise the risks, which I understand,” Bottas said. 

“As a driver a win is what we are after, when Seb went off I thought there was a good chance. I think for Lewis the Safety Car came at a better time as he could just stay out. Taking positives, as a team it is a perfect result for us.”