Bottas: I should have expected team orders

  • Published on 05 Oct 2018 01:30
  • comments 3
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Valtteri Bottas says that he perhaps should have expected Mercedes to use team orders during the Russian Grand Prix last weekend. The Finn driver was instructed by his team to move aside and allow teammate Lewis Hamilton through.

Bottas obliged and Hamilton went on to win the race, further extending his gap over Sebastian Vettel in the driver's championship. Speaking at Suzuka ahead of the Japanese GP this weekend, Bottas explained that a series of meetings took place before the controversial race.

"Many of the things we discussed within the team together, many of those things I can’t share, they’re private information. But basically every day before the race we have multiple meetings for different things. One of the meetings was discussing what we would do in terms of team orders, when we would apply them in situations. It’s sometimes so difficult to predict exactly what is going to happen in the race.”

Hamilton began to suffer blistering on his tyres after the round of pit stops were made. The Briton got past Vettel who had jumped him in the pitlane before the team orders call came into play. And Bottas admits that he should have seen it coming.

“The team obviously were concerned about the blistering Lewis had and they put me into second place to kind of protect him,” said Bottas. “If I could keep my position he could gain one position and then didn’t have risk from Sebastian with the rear blister Lewis had.

“I don’t think we discussed that kind of situation in detail so that’s why it was a bit confusing at the time. Looking back I think I should have maybe expected that to happen. But it’s just the way it went. I didn’t think it was going to go that way,” he added.

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • xoya

    Posts: 583

    This is getting stupid. Just shut up already and let's all forget it ever happened until next time it happens.

    • + 0
    • Oct 5 2018 - 09:19
  • I'm wiling to bet if the roles were reversed there is no way Hamilton would let Bottas past. not a chance. You saw how he acted in Abu Dhabi 2016.. only a team player when it suits him.

    • + 0
    • Oct 5 2018 - 18:06
  • Nobody expected the 50 Shades of Wolfisition... Well, everyone else but Bottas, apparently...

    • + 0
    • Oct 5 2018 - 18:15

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:05

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 02:05

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Mercedes
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 209
  • Country Finland
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (35)
  • Place of b. Nastola, Finland
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar