Did Hamilton offer Bottas Russian GP win?

Lewis Hamilton confirmed that he did not offer to move aside for Valtteri Bottas at the end of the Russian Grand Prix, having benefitted from Mercedes' team orders to open up a 50-point lead over Sebastian Vettel, at the expense of his team-mate's hopes of winning his first race of 2018.

Bottas was ordered aside to hand Hamilton the victory, Mercedes justifying their actions by claiming the championship leader had sustained tyre damage while battling Vettel on-track.

Hamilton gave a podium finish to Bottas at last year's Hungarian Grand Prix, having been allowed through by his team-mate to try and overtake Kimi Raikkonen, but the title picture ensured there would be no repeat in Sochi.

Hamilton told Sky Sports: "It crossed my mind and I was really thinking the last 12 laps: 'This feels so weird being in the lead, it just doesn't feel great.'

"Budapest from last year was replaying in my mind.

A decisive pass. But potentially an even more decisive moment in this year’s @F1 title battle... ????pic.twitter.com/iSLLptGWHd — Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) September 30, 2018

"But I remember the team also saying the result we need this weekend… we need these 10 points because if the car breaks down [in later races], we blow two more engines… I could lose the championship by three points.

"We could look back to this day and say 'we didn't work as a team' – which we are. That was their reasoning, as hard as this is to swallow."

Hamilton was as sheepish as he has ever been after winning a race, his usual histrionics kept aside, and he admitted that the win would live in his memory for all the wrong reasons.

"It's honestly the strangest day I can remember having in the sport in my career," he said. "I remember we've crossed the situation before and the discussion always felt super uncomfortable. I want to win the right way, that's always how it is for me.

"As racing drivers, we exist to win. If you tell us we can't win, it's like you're taking our air away, taking our life away. It's that deep.

"I would never wish it upon someone else. I would never ask for it ever. I made sure when we were in the meeting before I said 'I've never gone to Toto.' It's not how I want to win.

"The team took the decision. There are stronger heads in the team who're like: 'We have to win, it's all about the win. We have to win both championships and it doesn't matter how, we don't care who finishes ahead.'

"Then there are those of us who are racers and emotional about it.

"We have to embrace the moment still, but it's a win on my list of wins that I'm least proud of."

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