SUZUKA, Japan -- Lewis Hamilton says he is surprised Ferrari hasn't opted to enforce team orders in 2018 given the team's history of giving preferential treatment to one of its drivers.
Team orders was a hot topic of conversation in the Suzuka paddock on Thursday following Mercedes' controversial call to switch its drivers around during last weekend's Russian Grand Prix. Valtteri Bottas, who started from pole position in Sochi, was effectively leading the race from Hamilton after the frontrunners all made their one and only pit stop. However, when Sebastian Vettel began to close in on Hamilton for second place, the Silver Arrows radioed in and made the call, one which has split many in Formula One.