Valtteri Bottas has been told by Toto Wolff to pull out all the stops on Sunday in Austin, but if necessary to ensure Lewis Hamilton’s title, team orders to could be implemented by Mercedes.
Bottas has yet to win a race in 2018, having come close on several occasions only to see his efforts undermined by bad luck or team orders.
Hamilton will only need to outscore championship rival Sebastian Vettel by 8 points in the US Grand Prix to secure his fifth world title, and if the Finn is running ahead of his team mate in the closing stages of the race he may be forced to yield once again.
“The objective for Valtteri is to really go for it at the beginning,” Wolff said.
“He doesn’t have a lot to lose, and show a strong race, but if at the end we find ourselves in a situation where we, again, need to evaluate the points, we’ll do that.
“I don’t want to commit to say now whether or what we’ll be doing.”
His usual cautionary self, Wolff is keeping complacency out of the Mercedes garage, aware that Hamilton’s comfortable 67-point margin in the championship isn’t immune to an unexpected turn of events.
also talked down the assumption the 2018 F1 crown was Hamilton’s despite taking a 67-point advantage into the US race and takes nothing for granted until both titles are secured.
“For a few days you guys have been talking us up, this is almost done, he has a hand on the trophy,” Wolff said. “You either have the trophy in your hands, or you don’t. And we don’t.
“I know from the points point of view we’re looking solid but everything can happen in this sport.
“Ferrari has come back strong, it’s what we expected, and that’s why I’d like to keep all options open.”
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