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Lewis Hamilton won the Russian Grand Prix and came close to his fifth F1 title, but he is not happy.
The victory was handed to Hamilton by his teammate Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas, who stopped to let him pass under the orders of the team.
"It's never, in all my life, that I've wanted to win a race," said Hamilton, who said Mercedes had overrode his objections to the change. Passer Bottas "did not feel well."
Hamilton took the win after the change of pace and now leads the Ferrari standings by 50 points, Sebastian Vettel, as the two continue their fifth title. Even if Vettel wins the remaining five races, he is no longer sure to beat Hamilton.
Hamilton resisted a Vettel challenge at the start and doubled after the German briefly took the lead at pit stops, but on the 25th lap he was again under pressure from Vettel.
Soon the call has passed.
"Let Lewis pass in turn 13 of this round," was the message from the team to Bottas, who could have won his first win this year. Seconds later, the Finn is slouching on the edge of the track.
"I assured Valtteri that it was not something I was asking for, but that's what the team thinks it can do. It's a position very delicate to adopt, "said Hamilton. "There are not a lot of teammates doing anything like this."
It was Hamilton's fifth win in six races and the third Mercedes double that year.
Team orders, such as coordinated passes, are known, have been in use for decades and are allowed under the rules of F1. But they usually alienate fans who would prefer to attend competitions.
Mercedes strategist James Vowles defended the move by saying Hamilton had a "little blister" on his tire and could have fallen behind Vettel.
Vettel, who finished third, said he had no malice towards Hamilton and Bottas for their change.
"Congratulations to both of them, they played very well as a team," said Vettel. "I think in the position that they are, it's obvious what they've done today."
Starting at one place behind Hamilton in third, Vettel tried and failed to overtake him from the start and failed to take advantage when Hamilton missed an opportunity to overtake Bottas. at the second corner.
On a Russian circuit that made overtaking difficult, the main tragedy occurred when Hamilton emerged just behind Vettel after stopping on the 14th lap, triggering a brief but fierce battle between the two rivals.
Vettel blocked a shuttlecock by lining up a move on Bottas, allowing Hamilton to close before the start – finish straight line, but when Hamilton tried to overtake, Vettel cut it and l? forced towards the wall.
Hamilton hooked up on Vettel around the long left turn of Turn 3 and loaded the inside of Turn 4 at right angles to take second place. "It was a question of who would brake earlier at the next corner and I wanted it more," Hamilton said.
The stewards investigated Vettel for blocking Hamilton – who said the German "almost put me in the wall" – but took no action.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen started 19th on his 21st birthday, but finished in fifth place but could not challenge Kimi Raikkonen's Ferrari in front of him.
Verstappen has established himself as one of F1's most aggressive and exciting drivers, but he has never had a car capable of taking the title challenge.
Behind Verstappen was Daniel Ricciardo's second Red Bull. Charles Leclerc, who will replace Raikkonen at Ferrari next year, is ranked seventh after another strong run for Sauber, ahead of Kevin Magnussen's Haas.
The two Force Indias, Esteban Ocon and Sergio Perez, completed the top 10 after their failed experience using team orders to climb the field.
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