Mercedes F1 pair Hamilton and Bottas see no need for team orders

Boss Toto Wolff said after the Bahrain Grand Prix that Mercedes might need to rethink its approach after losing out to Ferrari, having ensured equality in recent years when it had F1's dominant car.

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

Even with that, Hamilton said he would not want Mercedes to employ team orders.

"I do not [want them], and never have," he said.

"Team orders has always been a very odd thing, and a difficult thing to judge - and something I've never particularly liked.

"But it is in our rules, and our approach, that the team needs to win the race.

"We have to try and work as a team.

"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."

Joining Hamilton to replace the retired Nico Rosberg in 2017, Bottas agrees 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.

"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," he said.

"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."