Sebastian Vettel does not want Ferrari to impose team orders on Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton is now 30 points clear of Vettel.

Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel does not want the Maranello team to impose orders on Kimi Raikkonen, despite Formula 1 title rival Mercedes’ Italian Grand Prix instructions to Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Mercedes left Bottas out on a long first stint at Monza and instructed him to keep erstwhile race leader Raikkonen behind him when the Ferrari caught the Mercedes on fresh tyres after its pitstop.

Hamilton, on even fresher rubber, then caught Raikkonen while he was stuck behind Bottas although Hamilton’s eventual winning pass owed more to Raikkonen’s tyre problems than the Bottas delay. Sebastian had been racing Kimi, who had beaten him to pole, for the lead on the first lap when he made contact with Hamilton and spun. Asked if Ferrari had discussed how to handle the start, Vettel replied: “No, I think we are old enough and we don’t need to go through the start. I’m doing my job and I’m prepared to race everybody. I was trying to use my chances in the first corner, a little bit in the second chicane, but it didn’t work. Then it was a bit unfortunate with how things turned out. Everybody’s free to have whatever approach they want. For us, it’s pretty clear and straightforward.” – he added.

Pushed further on whether he felt he was at a disadvantage because he had to fight his team-mate and Hamilton did not, Sebastian retorted: “I don’t know. Obviously I can see the points of the questions coming up. But for me it’s pretty clear: I’m happy to fight three cars, I’m happy to actually fight 19 cars. I think I’ve never been in a different position to that. That’s fine. I don’t expect anything else.” – Scuderia Ferrari German driver Sebastian Vettel concluded.

Hamilton is now 30 points clear of Vettel in the championship, with Raikkonen and Bottas 92 and 97 points off Hamilton respectively.