F1 team orders

With Sergio Perez frustrated with Red Bull’s use of team orders at the Spanish Grand Prix, will the team’s internal politics benefit Max Verstappen’s F1 title pursuit in 2022?

Arriving in the Formula 1 paddock at Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, it was clear that the dust is yet to have truly settled from the team orders’ controversy that sparked last Sunday in Russia.

After Mercedes stormed to a front row lock-out in Formula 1 qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix on Sochi on Saturday, it was somewhat predictable that the topic of team orders would be a major talking point after the chequered flag had fallen on Sunday afternoon.

Mercedes Formula 1 chief Toto Wolff says using team orders was "the harsh reality" for Valtteri Bottas in Sunday's Russian Grand Prix after he was told to give up a position to teammate Lewis Hamilton on-track, denying the Finn a race win.