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Bottas understands Mercedes team orders call

18:49, 22 Jul 2018

byJake Williams-Smith

Valtteri Bottas says he understands the decision from Mercedes to issue team orders during the closing stages of the German Grand Prix. After a difficult tripleheader and miraculous luck during the race at Hockenheim, Mercedes opted to use team orders to ensure a one-two finish on home soil.

Speaking after the race, Bottas admitted that he understood why his team had issued the call to hold station.

"We had a bit of a battle out there, first lap after the safety car with Lewis," he said.

"I didn't get past him, and then I was told to minimise the risk. Which I understand.

"I think for Lewis the safety car was better timed," he added.

"He stayed out and I had to stop.

"As a driver of course a win is what you're looking after," he added. "When Seb went off I thought, you know, now this is a good choice.

"But taking positives as the team, it was a perfect result for us in Germany, our home Grand Prix for Mercedes. So that's good."

Mercedes lept above Ferrari in the constructor standings with the result and Lewis Hamilton retook the lead of the driver standings also with his rival Sebastian Vettel crashing out.