Mercedes explain team order hesitation
Date published:
July 7 2021
Mercedes have explained why, despite Lewis Hamilton having damage, team orders weren’t immediately issued at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was in a league of his own at the Red Bull Ring but things were much closer behind him, with the Mercedes drivers locked in a tight battle with the McLaren of Lando Norris.
Hamilton looked as if he’d take P2, but then he ran wide on a kerb, damaging his car, causing him to be caught by Bottas and Norris.
With the Finn much quicker and under pressure from the McLaren, it was expected that Hamilton would quickly be told to move aside for his team-mate,