Lewis Hamilton moved 50 points clear of Sebastian Vettel by claiming his eighth win of the year in the Russian Grand Prix.
However, controversy was the order of the day in Sochi, with Hamilton only securing the victory due to team orders issued by the Mercedes staff.
Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas was told to let the Brit pass him on lap 26, due to an alleged blister on the former’s tyre.
“You need to let Lewis by into turn 13 this lap,” Bottas‘ race engineer, Tony Ross, said. After the manoeuvre, Mercedes’ chief strategist, James Vowles, explained the decision to Bottas.
“Valtteri, it is James,” he said. “We had a risk with Lewis against [Sebastian] Vettel. He has a small blister (on his tyre). I had to do this to make sure we secured this.”
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Bottas did not reply, and after the race – which finished with Hamilton, Bottas and Vettel in first, second and third respectively – he toed the company line.
“It was a difficult day,” the Finn admitted.
“It was a good result as a team but personally as everyone saw it was quite difficult. Lewis is fighting for the championship so we always have a plan, but it is what it is.”
Mercedes’ team orders did not go down well on social media, with fans criticising chief Toto Wolff for favouring Hamilton over Bottas while the latter was certain to claim a victory.
Controversy at the #RussianGP as Bottas is told to let Hamilton through – and Bottas isn’t happy about it
Race live now on #SkyF1
Watch on Sky Go: https://t.co/4K4quegZMb pic.twitter.com/VEefAdDc25
— Sky Sports F1
(@SkySportsF1) September 30, 2018
Toto Wolff did a bad job probably destroying Bottas’s only chance of win this year#RussianGP
#F1
— #RussianGP
(@Formula1_MotoGP) September 30, 2018
Wolff should have had the balls to speak to Bottas during the race.
— Tejuarr
(@Tejuarr) September 30, 2018
Source: TalkSport.com Motorsport
