Mercedes won’t “interfere” in drivers’ title battle

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In the round-up: Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff says the team won’t intervene in the title battle between their drivers today.

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Spare a thought today for Hamilton and Rosberg’s mechanics:

I wouldn’t like to be on the pit crew, anyway. I mean, can you imagine?
@Lockup

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On this day in F1

Five years ago today Mark Webber ended the 2011 season with a win after a gearbox problem struck team mate Sebastian Vettel:

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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33 comments on “Mercedes won’t “interfere” in drivers’ title battle”

  1. Would not interfere = using different strategy are discourage.

  2. I know you should never look a gift horse in the mouth, but come on… a crashed chassis as a farewell gift?! Come on Williams! :P

    1. Just what I thought!

    2. If Felipe doesn’t want it…

    3. @fer-no65
      Yeah, I thought the same thing at first … :D
      But as it turns out, the chassis is fine – it’s the one he’s using today, so definitely a very special car for him. If it survives today, that is. :p

  3. I’m beginning to feel like I don’t want either of these two to win the championship. Can we just give it to Massa instead of that busted chassis?

  4. Hoho.. Piercing comment by Jody Sheckter!… Crofty does talk a lot.. Even for a commentator!

    1. “doesn’t he just” :)

      On the flip side, Ben Edwards is the best commentator since Murray Walker imho. Well, apart from Keith of course.

    2. I don’t understand why British people listen to Hamilton TV instead of getting their coverage from C4.

      1. I personally watch the C4 coverage whenever they have the full race, but when they just have the highlights I get my anti-cringe armour and force myself to watch the Sky coverage.

  5. Why does Rosberg look like he’s contemplating suicide?

    1. He has a strange look in those photos.
      I think he didn’t play it safe and went for pole. And as a competitor, he is not happy when he’s failing.

  6. Yes (@come-on-kubica)
    27th November 2016, 1:51

    Don’t know why Button didn’t punt for the Renault seat. Would have been worth the risk.

    1. @come-on-kubica worth the risk of what? staying in F1 for too long? he’s already done that with Mclaren back in 2014… he should’ve left then instead of suffering 2 years in that slow Macca-Honda. He doesn’t need another slow year in a Renault.

      1. Yes (@come-on-kubica)
        27th November 2016, 10:53

        @fer-no65 He certainly still has talent and would be better than the option of havin Palmer.

  7. Banco do Brasil won’t sponsor Sauber in 2017. http://grandepremio.uol.com.br/mobile/f1/noticias/banco-do-brasil-alega-questoes-orcamentarias-e-estrategia-de-marketing-e-oficializa-fim-de-patrocinio-a-sauber

    Not happy to remember it, but I’ve called that a few weeks ago. Seems we will be without a brazilian driver for the first time since 1969

    1. Not a surprise but still a bad news.

  8. Not interfere … I am tired of the masquerade.

  9. ColdFly F1 (@)
    27th November 2016, 9:44

    Let’s solve the Mercedes G class riddle.
    I don’t recognise the plates. However in the UAE they drive on the right.
    Also the wipers confirm that both cars are left hand drive.
    Only the grey car’s driver will struggle to enter the car.
    There is space to the right of the grey car, thus no need to be as tightly parked.
    I noticed that both Lewis and Nico tend to drive their own cars.
    Thus the silver car (Lewis) seems the be the prankster here.

  10. “Mercedes won’t “interfere” in drivers’ title battle”

    Oh yes, I do believe it! Like they didn’t “interfere” in last two title battles……………………………………….

    1. You are suggesting they are favouring Hamilton?

      1. Not only “suggesting”, I openly said that several time. But I know this opinion is not shared by most here, so you don’t need to tell me that ;-)

        Anyway, time has come, have a good GP to everyone!

        1. Well, looks like you were wrong. Team orders amounting to forbidding Hamilton to try to win the title. Didn’t make any difference in the end, of course, but Mercedes have shown what their claim to ‘let the drivers race’ to be the hot air that I thought it was.

        2. Given that others are accusing the team to favour Hamilton, I think they are quite neutral on the subject.

  11. If Hamilton really did do a “world champion” action in reference to Rosberg – regardless of the circumstance I think that’s rather disrespectful. In fact everything so far coming out of this GP weekend has made him look like an awful person. Great talent, awful man.

    I really wish the championship had a third option, I don’t want either of them to have it. Truly hope next year Ferrari and Red Bull get their act together.

    1. Great talent, awful man.

      Succinctly put.

      1. Remember that you only know the man through the press filter. And it filters a lot.

    2. In theory, they could both get DSQ from the championship (like Schumacher in ’97) with Ricciardo taking the title. However, I presume the odds of this happening are less than a billion to one!

  12. Thank you for the birthday wishes. Really appreciated.

  13. Mercedes have said that the will interfere. Its been stated on Sky that if Hamilton backs the second rate golden german up, the team will pit SRGG to give him the “undercut”. So, yes, they will interfere.

    BTW, there are no rules about backing a driver up. Drivers have every right to do it.

    Granted, I think it would be a dangerous risky move for Lewis, and therefor a mistake. But its his call, not mine, Merc’s or any one elses.

    1. I wondered why he didn’t try it earlier in the race, guess he really was worried the team would sabotage his strategy.

  14. Looking at this headline in hindsight is hilarious!

    1. Indeed, why did Mercedes bother going through the charade? They were bound to get found out.
      (not that it ultimately made a difference)

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