Team orders an exception, not a rule at Mercedes - Wolff

Mercedes' Toto Wolff insists the team orders that governed the closing stages of Sunday's German Grand Prix will not become the norm at the Silver Arrows outfit for the remainder of the season.

Lewis Hamilton executed a stunning recovery drive at Hockenheim, inheriting the lead of the race after arch-rival Sebastian Vettel's demise, but with a feisty Valtteri Bottas snapping at his heels with just ten laps to go.

After challenging Hamilton on the restart that followed a six-lap safety car period, Bottas was told to hold station behind his team Mercedes team mate.

Bottas 'understands' Mercedes team order decision

Wolff insists however the order was about "bringing it home" and recovering points for the Brackley squad, and was not an indication of Bottas' secondary status.

"No, absolutely not," he said.

"If it would have been the other way around with Valtteri in the lead and Lewis second we would have made the same call.

"Identical call. It was about bringing it home, we respected who was in the front.

"The most important thing in Formula 1 is racing," added Wolff.

"We've always said that if we get to the last quarter of the championship with one of the drivers having a big advantage, then we could take some unpopular measures.

"But the time for this has not yet come," stressed the Austrian.

"Today we used team tactics so that both cars were guaranteed to finish. As I said, if Valtteri had been leading, we would have made the decision in his favour."

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.