The strange paradox where F1 is both a team sport and a one man sport at the same time was thrown into the spotlight yesterday in the season ending race in Abu Dhabi. And it's possible that Lewis Hamilton could be suspended or sacked by Mercedes.
Yesterday Hamilton slowed the race right down in an attempt to get other drivers involved and overtake Nico Rosberg who held a 12 point lead over the Brit in the world title. Some complained at Lewis' tactics but seriously, which sportsman wouldn't attempt to win the World Championship?
Unfortunately for the former world champ his team weren't happy with the pace and worried that either Red Bull or Ferrari could steal a victory from them and asked Hamilton to go quicker but twice the British driver ignored them and continued to slow people up.
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On the first occasion he was asked to speed up Hamilton snapped back "I suggest you let us race". Reports suggest that the former McLaren driver will be punished with possible suspension for some races and maybe even sacking a possibility.
After the race Rosberg was actually understanding of the tactics but Toto Wolff fumed at his driver for ignoring instructions saying, "Anarchy does not work in any team and in any company. Undermining a structure in public means you are putting yourself before the team.
"Everything is possible now, from let's change the rules next year because it does not work in those critical races and maybe we want to give them more freedom. Or on the more harsh side, that we feel the values were not respected. I am not sure yet where my finger is going to point or the needle is going to go."
Wolff did end by suggesting he understood his driver's position and that hopefully means he won't punish him too harshly, "The other half says it was his only chance of winning the championship at this stage.
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"Maybe you cannot demand a racing driver that is one of the best, if not the best out there, to comply in a situation where his instincts can not make him comply."
In the end Hamilton won the race, Rosberg finished second, there was no incident and Hamilton made what could have been a quite boring finish to the season very exciting, so what harm?
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