Bottas expecting further team orders

Bottas expecting further team orders

Martin Macdonald

Thursday 4 October 2018 15:22

Valtteri Bottas has admitted that further team orders could be called by Mercedes until Lewis Hamilton has won the drivers' championship, following the Russian Grand Prix last week which saw the Finn ordered to swap positions with his team-mate to hand him the win.

During the GP in Sochi last weekend, Bottas was poised to claim the top position on the podium, only for team orders to be initiated by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff resulting in him swapping positions with Hamilton, who was looking to further extend his lead over Sebastian Vettel in the championship, with the Ferrari driver coming from the rear in third.

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Wolff and Hamilton have apologised to Bottas since, and even though there has been some controversy surrounding the decision, the 29-year-old believes the orders could be made again before the season concludes.

"It could definitely happen again," Bottas admitted.

"Yes (Mercedes have told me), and that is what I expect. I will be supporting Lewis. I just need to accept it and it is now the situation I am in because of everything that has happened earlier in the season. I can't fight any more for the championship.

"I am a team player and I am willing to help. It is what I do, and when it is time, and I am allowed to win, I will do it. But it doesn't mean that I am not a racer and I don't want to win. Winning is everything, but that time will come later."