Wolff says Mercedes now considering team orders: 'Haven't discussed it yet'

Max Verstappen seemed the clear favourite for pole position in Mexico, but Mercedes surprised friend and foe by finishing with Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton on the front row together. According to team principal Toto Wolff, this creates possibilities the team hadn't considered before.

For that reason, Wolff says he wants to discuss the possibility of using team orders prior to the race. Given Bottas' strong form at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, that may mean the Finn has to relinquish first place to his teammate.

First, however, the Mercedes duo will have to fend off the attacking Red Bulls of Verstappen and Sergio Perez, both of whom can take advantage of slipstream in the long run to Turn 1. "The most important thing is to stay in front at the start," Wolff told Crash.net. "From there it's easier to manage the race."

When asked if the possibility of team orders had been discussed, Wolff replied: "No, we haven't discussed it because we felt we weren't in a position to consider that. Obviously the situation is different now and we are going to discuss it in the morning, as we always do in the strategic meeting."