Kimi and[ahem] team orders

[Dare]

Kimi knew what they wanted but I guess he wanted the
rest of this to know too. Welcome to Ferrari Charles

http://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/24167353/kimi-raikkonen-ferrari-team-order-radio-exchange-full

[cosworth151]

Why not? Mercedes flat out told Bottas to 'hold position" when he tried to pass Lewis after the SC.

[Dare]

Why not? Mercedes flat out told Bottas to 'hold position" when he tried to pass Lewis after the SC.

All I'm saying is if your a young and upcoming driver how can
you show your true talent if your no allowed to or a ready to move
on old driver like Kimi. Too many being treated like a Rueben's for my
liking

[Alianora La Canta]

The worst of it was that, even in this era when open team orders are allowed, Ferrari couldn't say it. That suggests to me they're scared Kimi will give them no other options by walking out on them at season's end (which, at best, would leave them open to having to pay Charles more than they might think he is worth for his services).

[Monty]

I felt really sorry for Kimi - we all know that his tyres were much older than Seb's but he was easily keeping over 1 second ahead. If Seb couldn't even get within DRS it seemed grossly unfair to make Kimi drop behind him and therefore wreck his older tyres even more.
If two cars are battling so closely that there is a risk of them crashing, I can understand a team telling one to hold back, but I hate it when the decision is just about maximising points for one driver. I guess I just have to accept that F1 is a team sport 

[guest3164]

The worst of it was that, even in this era when open team orders are allowed, Ferrari couldn't say it. That suggests to me they're scared Kimi will give them no other options by walking out on them at season's end (which, at best, would leave them open to having to pay Charles more than they might think he is worth for his services).

I think you are very right about them worrying that Kimi will walk.  Talk is now that the new management (best wishes to Sergio Marchionne) want consistency next season due to the management upheaval and prefer to have Kimi race again for Ferrari. 

[Jericoke]

The worst of it was that, even in this era when open team orders are allowed, Ferrari couldn't say it. That suggests to me they're scared Kimi will give them no other options by walking out on them at season's end (which, at best, would leave them open to having to pay Charles more than they might think he is worth for his services).

It goes to show how much mental capacity Kimi has for racing.  He's turning in some of the fastest laps on worn out tires, and he's simultaneously negotiating next year's contract on an open radio channel.

[John S]

Why not? Mercedes flat out told Bottas to 'hold position" when he tried to pass Lewis after the SC.

All I'm saying is if your a young and upcoming driver how can
you show your true talent if your no allowed to or a ready to move
on old driver like Kimi. Too many being treated like a Rueben's for my
liking

They issued the Bottas order after Lewis had seen off Valtteri's attempted surge.

IMHO they issued the hold order to Bottas as they knew Lewis would never let him pass with a win so close, they feared Hammy would collide rather than allow Valtteri through. Lewis had already disobeyed the pit call to get in position for the win, now would he really give it up?????   

They wanted a 1-2 finish in front of the Merc top Brass and workers - not 2 DNFs. Heck the Merc chairman even took a drenching from champers on the podium they were so pleased.

[Alianora La Canta]

The worst of it was that, even in this era when open team orders are allowed, Ferrari couldn't say it. That suggests to me they're scared Kimi will give them no other options by walking out on them at season's end (which, at best, would leave them open to having to pay Charles more than they might think he is worth for his services).

It goes to show how much mental capacity Kimi has for racing.  He's turning in some of the fastest laps on worn out tires, and he's simultaneously negotiating next year's contract on an open radio channel.

And obfuscating this enough that the commentary team misses all of the above - while still being able to say, completely truthfully, that it was the other side of the conversation that was being needlessly vague 

[rmassart]

For me there is also a very real difference between telling drivers to hold position a few laps from the end to telling the leading driver to let the guy behind through. I know they are both team orders but the effect is quite different in my view.

[Jericoke]

For me there is also a very real difference between telling drivers to hold position a few laps from the end to telling the leading driver to let the guy behind through. I know they are both team orders but the effect is quite different in my view.

Keeping in mind, from a purely technical point of view, close running F1 cars seem to burn through their tires quickly.  Vettel was being a good boy and not trying to pass Kimi.  Vettel certainly could have, and if you let the racers race (as I'd love to see as much as anyone), it would have been a fight and Kimi would definitely have had problems with his tires.  Letting Vettel through was the best way for Kimi to maximize points.

I imagine that Kimi (and Vettel) would love nothing more to have a straight up fight, in the same machine, the same tires.  That's why you get into racing, after all.  They both showed a tremendous amount of professionalism, even if it wasn't very entertaining.