Hamilton, Bottas insist they don't want team orders

Team boss Toto Wolff said after the Bahrain Grand Prix that Mercedes might need to rethink its approach to team orders after losing out to Ferrari.

Mercedes has ensured equality between its two drivers in previous years when it had a dominant car, but its situation has become more complicated now Ferrari is so competitive.

In Bahrain, Vettel took his second win of the season after Hamilton lost time behind Bottas, who struggled to keep up with the German.

"We don't like that at all," said Wolff after the race. "It's not what we have done in the last couple of years but the situation is different now, so it needs a proper analysis of what it means and where we are."

But speaking ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, Bottas said team orders had not been discussed, while Hamilton insisted he was against them.

"I do not [want them], and never have, and team orders has always been a very odd thing, and a difficult thing to judge – and something I've never particularly liked," said Hamilton.

"But it is in our rules, and our approach is that the team needs to win the race. We have to try and work as a team, but only in special circumstances."

He added: "It's difficult every single time but it's definitely not a great thing to hear. I think you just have to assess in the moment, what your position is and whether you're in a powerful position and when you're actually contributing to the team's result or you're not. Then make the call."

Bottas also feels there will not be a need for Mercedes to use team orders.

"We have not had the conversation because I don't think there is any need to," said Bottas. "This team had never had number one or number two drivers and is not planning to.

"It is always trying to give an equal chance to both drivers, but the last three years the gap to the second quickest team has been bigger, so now every single detail can cost points."

Despite Ferrari leading both the drivers' and the constructors' championships, Bottas does not think Mercedes will change its approach and make one of its drivers the number one.

"I don't think that will happen," said Bottas. "If I have some issues in this race for whatever reason, a different strategy or Lewis is stuck behind me, then I will move over.

"We are doing this for the team and the target is to get maximum points for the team. I have always been a team player, but what is going to happen in the future between me and Lewis with team orders, we are not planning anything.

"This year the team needs to be careful and more clever, so I will collect every single point possible in the race."

Additional reporting by Valentin Khorounzhiy