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F1 News & Discussions => General F1 Discussion => Topic started by: Dare on April 29, 2017, 04:06:41 PM

Title: Mercedes team orders
Post by: Dare on April 29, 2017, 04:06:41 PM
Little early in my opinion.I'm thinking Bottas will
get the short straw in this one


Source Planet F1

Niki Lauda has confirmed that Mercedes will start using team orders as they try to counter the threat posed by Ferrari.

Lauda and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff were wincing in the garage as they watched the Scuderia continue to dictate the pace throughout the practice sessions at the Russian Grand Prix.

And now the Silver Arrows have changed their strategy ahead of Sunday's race and beyond.

"It is logical: 'If I cannot go as quick as my team-mate I have to give him room to fight Vettel," Lauda told BBC Sport.

"The biggest problem for [Valtteri] Bottas and Lewis [Hamilton] is Vettel now. He is the one to beat."

"In the past we had no team orders because we were dominating with both cars and there was no enemy, no-one could get in between.

"This year, the first three races, is completely different.

"Ferrari is competitive. Vettel is right there, makes no mistakes and gives us a real interesting fight.

"So our new policy has to be that if one driver of ours cannot go quicker than the other one then he has to think as a team and use his problems not to block the other one. But it is not a team order."

Lauda also said there would be no preferential treatment to one driver and team orders will apply to both Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

He added: "So far Lewis was quicker, particularly in the last race, but these things can change, it works in both directions, we have to wait and see."
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: Scott on April 29, 2017, 07:54:57 PM
Merc wouldn't be on the back foot if they hadn't completely blown strategy in the first few races.  Ferrari looks fast today, though I didn't see Bottas make an obvious mistake, Lewis did, and that is why he isn't on pole.
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: lkjohnson1950 on April 29, 2017, 09:19:37 PM
According to Steve Matchett, the tires have a very narrow set up window. Merc is having trouble keeping temps and pressures stable, Ferrari has found the key.
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: J.Clark on April 30, 2017, 12:12:01 PM
Pure and simple - Ferrari is quicker at the moment.

Team orders have been part of this since the introduction of the radio.  Merc has had no need to use them in the past couple of years as both cars typically were reliable and in a class of their own with regard to pace.  Now, there is a serious challenger.  They can no longer afford to have Lewis, or Valteri held up by his teammate while trying to chase down a car of equal speed.
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: John S on April 30, 2017, 12:29:00 PM
 Good luck to you Niki trying to get Hammy to move over for Bottas - if you ever get brave enough to try of course.  :P

I read this as Merc have now established a 1 - 2 order and we all know what it is.  ;)
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: J.Clark on April 30, 2017, 03:53:42 PM
We'll see.
Today may have an impact on that.
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: Alianora La Canta on April 30, 2017, 08:07:49 PM
Given the situation, I'm apt to assume "team orders" means extending rules that could apply either way, including "hold station" or "put eggs into whichever basket's strongest in a given race" rather than "put eggs into one driver's basket at all costs" for the moment.
Title: Re: Mercedes team orders
Post by: Scott on April 30, 2017, 10:00:38 PM
I don't think Merc are daft enough to choose a driver already...no, I take that back.  They probably are that daft...they're still paying Niki to spoil the scenery.
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