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Bottas ignored team orders during Australian Grand Prix

Bottas ignored team orders during Australian Grand Prix

17-03-2019 17:25
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Jake Williams-Smith

Valtteri Bottas ignored team orders during the Australian Grand Prix according to Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff. The Finn dominated proceedings in the opening round of the season but apparently disobeyed an order from Wolff himself.

After the race, Wolff revealed that he had blocked both of his drivers from attempting to set the fastest lap for the extra point introduced new this season. 

In a team meeting that took place ahead of the race, Wolff had told his drivers that should they not have the fastest lap in the closing stages of the race, they would not be allowed to chase the time for the extra point, something that Bottas ignored.

"Today in the morning meeting when we talked about strategy, I forbade them to go for the fastest lap if we were running first, second or third. They ignored me. All of them!" Wolff said.

"At the end I'm very happy. Collecting that extra point I think is good. It's entertaining. It's a great new part of the spectacle. I believe that it's taking risks. Especially when you're aiming for the big points, should you go for the fastest lap?

"But then maybe my reference point in keeping control of a car is my own driving and not the level of the Formula 1 drivers? I didn't like it so much."

Bottas' persistence netted him 26 points at the first time of asking and his first win since the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"I just decided in the last few laps, even though I was in traffic, trying to find a bit of a gap," the Finn said after the race.

"I was pulling back, with some cars behind, went to some other engine modes, and went for a quick lap. I'm glad I got it, so it's obviously one point more."