4
Paddy Lowe is refusing to criticise Lewis Hamilton after the outgoing champion ignored team orders.
The Mercedes technical chief demanded Hamilton speed up, amid fears that he and second-placed Nico Rosberg would be passed by Sebastian Vettel.
Hamilton slowed his pace to put Rosberg under pressure in a last-ditch attempt to revive his championship hopes, but Mercedes were more concerned with taking a secure victory.
Despite ordering his driver to speed up over the radio, after the race Lowe refused to call out Hamilton for his tactics.
"I don't want to comment too much on the subject because who knows, we weren't driving the car," Lowe told Sky Sports. "Who knows what the real pace is of a car when you are not driving it."
"It did present some challenges, in end Lewis and Nico were out there racing," he added. "I think it was great to see Sebastian coming through with what turned out to be a very good strategy from Ferrari to get him ahead of the two Red Bulls."
"It was nail-biting stuff for us on the pit wall, those final two laps, would he get through Nico or even Lewis."
Hamilton meanwhile felt his tactics were fair, and couldn't understand Mercedes' decision to impose team orders.
"I don't know why they didn't let us just race," Hamilton said. "There was never a moment where I felt I was going to lose the race. But their thought process was quite clear."
"I don't think I did anything dangerous, I don't think I did anything unfair," he insisted. "We were fighting for the championship, I was in the lead so I control the pace. That is the rules."
Sebastian Vettel believes that Lewis Hamilton is the greatest driver of their era and reveals what he said to the Bri...
Carlos Sainz believes that this year’s mildfierd battle is the tightest he has ever experienced in the last cou...
Formula 1 has announced today morning its calendar for season 2021 ahead of Turkish Grand Prix. The next year&r...
Lewis Hamilton believes that winning the teams' title with Mercedes feels better than winning the drivers' ti...
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
L. Hamilton
K. Räikkönen
V. Bottas
Circuit de Catalunya - Winter testing
331,703 comments on Mercedes
61 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lewis Hamilton
426,181 comments on Ferrari 246 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Ferrari
Spain
Spain
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Austria
Red Bull Ring
Hungary
Hungaroring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Italy
Monza
Italy
Mugello
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
Germany
Nurburgring
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
R. Kubica
Replies (4)
Login to replydenis1304
Posts: 284
I got feeling Sebastian Vettel come to 3rd and just guarded Nico from Max...
calle.itw
Posts: 8,526
Vettel isnt exactly the type to do that. If he has the opportunity he'll overtake.
denis1304
Posts: 284
@CALLE.ITW yes, you are 100% right... my comment more was wistful thinking
denis1304
Posts: 284
@CALLE.ITW
yes, you are 100% right... my comment was more wistful thinking (edit)