SOCHI, Russia -- Lewis Hamilton insists he remains firmly against the principle of team orders but says "special circumstances" can make them necessary, as with Mercedes' decision to move Valtteri Bottas over for him in Bahrain.
A late charge nearly saw Hamilton catch Sebastian Vettel under the lights in Sakhir as he slashed away at the gap on a new set of tyres. That charge had been made possible by teammate Bottas moving over to free Hamilton during the final stint after the Finn struggled with his tyres throughout the race.
Bottas later said he understood why Mercedes had let him past but, on arrival to the Sochi paddock ahead of the Russian Grand Prix, had to fend off questions about whether he fears being made No.