'Absent Wolff instructed Mercedes team order between Russell and Hamilton'

It was a bit of a squeeze at the Japanese Grand Prix for Mercedes fans. Lewis Hamilton and George Russell went into battle with each other, and it almost went wrong. Later in the race, Mercedes had fears that another fight would take place and so Russell was given a team order. The Race now reports that it would have been the absent Toto Wolff who relayed the team order to the pit wall.

It was early for European Formula 1 fans, but when Russell and Hamilton fought each other, Mercedes fans will no doubt have woken up. The seven-time world champion did not want to let his teammate pass him, and that caused him to push Russell off the track.

At the end of the race, the teammates met again, but to prevent another fight, Russell was given a team order that he should let Hamilton pass. It would have been Toto Wolff who would have relayed the team order to the pit wall. The team was in the dilemma of giving a team order or letting Russell drive ahead of Hamilton and swap places on the last lap. Due to Wolff's instruction, Mercedes chose the first option.