The Love-Hate Relationship Between Drivers and Team Orders in F1

In the high-stakes world of Formula 1, team orders have always been a contentious issue. At the Miami Grand Prix, drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz showcased their disdain for their respective teams over team radio. Sainz, for instance, felt “stupid” and “powerless” after a team order mix-up that cost him a potential victory.

Controversial Team Orders in F1 History

Let’s delve into some of the most controversial instances of team orders in the history of Formula 1.

In the 1998 Australia Grand Prix, McLaren forced David Coulthard to make way for Mika Hakkinen, despite having led the race from pole position. This move was met with criticism and even intervention by the World Motor Sport Council.

In the same year’s Belgium Grand Prix, Damon Hill called the shots for his first Jordan win after Michael Schumacher took him out. The incident led to Schumacher moving to Williams the following season.

The 2002 Austria Grand Prix saw Ferrari getting team orders banned when Rubens Barrichello was ordered to move over for Michael Schumacher, despite leading all but one lap throughout the race. This decision was seen as unnecessary given ‘s superiority in that year.

In the 2010 Germany Grand Prix, Ferrari transgressed the rule against direct team orders when it told Felipe Massa to let Fernando Alonso through. This led to a fine for and eventually the lifting of the ban on team orders at the end of the season.

The 2013 Malaysia Grand Prix saw Mark Webber defying a “Multi 21” message from his team, Christian Horner, to let Sebastian Vettel pass. This incident has been erroneously carried into F1 folklore.

In the 2018 Russia Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas was commanded to let Lewis Hamilton through to ensure Hamilton could extend his championship lead.

Recent Examples of Team Orders in F1

One of the most recent examples of team orders reigning chaos on an F1 weekend was during the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix, where McLaren was leading the race with Norris and Piastri ahead of the pack. Despite Norris being granted an undercut strategy, he was told to let Piastri pass, leading to a frosty mood at as Norris came home in second.

The complex relationship between drivers and team orders continues to be a topic of debate in Formula 1, with teams constantly walking the line between allowing their drivers to race freely and ensuring strategic decisions are made for the greater good of the team.