Williams: Massa “not against team orders”
After the team leaders, it was the Williams drivers who explained to the press that the situation had been resolved following the team orders episode at the Malaysian Grand Prix. Massa took the opportunity to explain that he had nothing against team orders.
The Williams team press briefing in Bahrain was an opportunity to hear the drivers speak for the first time since last Sunday about the team orders issued by the Grove team. They claim that the situation has been clarified.
The incident occurred on the 54th lap of the Malaysian Grand Prix when Felipe Massa, after receiving the order to let his teammate, who was faster than him, pass, did not comply. In the heat of the moment, the situation seemed relatively tense between Massa, Bottas, and the Williams team. The British team communicated this week that the problems have been resolved.
« Everything has been discussed and it should be fine, » confirmed Massa, before adding: « It won’t happen again until it’s the right time. It wasn’t the right time. » Valtteri Bottas added: « We’ve discussed it. We’ve clarified the rules. »
The Brazilian was keen to clarify that he had nothing against team play, but that the context surprised him: « I am not against team orders. It’s part of our sport. But I was not expecting what happened last weekend and it was not right, the team knows it. » During his career with Ferrari, Felipe Massa often had to accommodate the role of model teammate, first for Michael Schumacher in 2006, then for Kimi Räikkönen in 2007 and Fernando Alonso between 2010 and 2013.
I don’t think it damaged my relationship with the team. If I make a mistake, I will be the first to be sorry, he believes. The phrase used by Andrew Murdoch, Felipe, Valtteri is faster than you (Valtteri est plus rapide que toi) was of course reminiscent of the order received by the Paulista, on a day in July 2010, while he was leading the German Grand Prix, for Ferrari, ahead of Fernando Alonso. Massa found this repetition of history amusing.
It should be noted that, while Felipe Massa is presented as the only one to have broken team orders, the radio communications from the Malaysian Grand Prix revealed that Valtteri Bottas himself ignored certain orders early in the race when his team asked him not to attack the Brazilian while he was battling with Kevin Magnussen.
