Toto Wolff hints at Mercedes strategy to help Lewis Hamilton win Italian GP sprint race

George Russell joins Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

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Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has admitted that he may have to give orders to Valtteri Bottas to move out of Lewis Hamilton’s way during the sprint race at Monza to help with his bid in the F1 title race.

Alfa Romeo-bound Bottas, who has been replaced by George Russell at Mercedes ahead of the 2022 season, edged out Hamilton by a mere 0.096 seconds to clinch pole ahead of the sprint race.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s championship rival and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will start third on Saturday in Italy.

And Mercedes are thinking tactically ahead of only F1’s second ever sprint event. The format offers three points to the winner of the 18-lap dash with the runner-up taking two points and third grabbing a single point.

But as well as the chance of picking up some vital points, the sprint race also determines the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix – just like any normal qualifying event.

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And with Bottas, despite taking pole, starting Sunday’s race at the back of the grid after being sanctioned for an engine change for a fourth time this season, Wolff has hinted that he may have to be ruthless and ask the Finn to move aside for his seven-time world champion.

Hamilton is in the midst of an enthralling title race with Verstappen, with the Brit sitting just three points behind the Red Bull star ahead of the 14th race of a scheduled 22.

“You have to do this because it has been so tight,” said Wolff.

“Nobody wants to use team orders because we are all racers and it is ugly, especially if someone puts in a lap like Valtteri did today, completely on merit.

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“We need to see how the race pans out, and if the positions stay like they are, then we will have to make that call.

“But maybe tomorrow it is more acceptable to do it than other times because there is a point or two at stake, and Valtteri goes all the way back to the grid on Sunday with the engine penalty.”

It is only the second time ever that a sprint race has been staged following the successful trial at Silverstone back in July.

While it was a rather familiar front three on Friday during qualifying, Lando Norris finished fourth for McLaren ahead of team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, while the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly, last year’s surprise winner, placing sixth.

Russell, who will partner Hamilton next year in a mouth-watering all-British line-up, retained his perfect qualifying record against his Williams team-mates.

The Englishman, 23, was temporarily knocked out of Q1 only to be given a late reprieve when Yuki Tsunoda’s lap was deleted for exceeding track limits at the Parabolica.

Tsunoda was demoted to 17th, with Russell taking advantage to progress to Q2. He qualified 15th, one place ahead of Nicholas Latifi in the other Williams.

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