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Lewis Hamilton says Mercedes teamwork key in bid to beat Ferrari

Hamilton not a fan of team orders but says Ferrari threat means Mercedes must put team interests first; Hopes work from Bahrain Test on race pace pays off in Sochi

Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes' drivers are going to have to work together "more than ever" to defeat Ferrari - meaning team orders could be used again during 2017.

And Hamilton says the world champions are hoping to "counter attack" their rivals at this weekend's Russian GP after working on solutions for their race-pace problems at last week's Bahrain Test.

F1 heads into this weekend's Sochi event with Sebastian Vettel, winner of two of the opening three races, seven points ahead of Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship, while Ferrari are three clear of Mercedes in the constructors' standings.

With the battle proving so finely poised between the two teams and their leading drivers, the spectre of Ferrari and Mercedes each having to back one of them for the title has already been mooted in the media - particularly with Vettel and Hamilton more than 20 points ahead of their respective team-mate.

The Russian GP on Sky Sports
The Russian GP on Sky Sports

TV times for this weekend's event and all the ways you can watch on Sky Sports

Bottas, struggling for pace, was twice told to cede position to Hamilton at the last race in Bahrain so the Englishman could attack Vettel.

Hamilton admits such orders are "something I've never particularly liked", but says Mercedes' code of conduct makes clear the team's interests must come first. Nonetheless, he would expect orders to be imposed "only in special circumstances".

"Of course, we've got to make sure we maximise the points for the team through a weekend," said Hamilton in Sochi.

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"In our notes and our job description is to win for the team, not win for yourself. So whilst individually we want to win the race, if you can't win it's not the case of not wanting the other car to win, you want the team to win and succeed.

"As Mercedes, we want to finish ahead of Ferrari, and to do that we have to work as a team - more than ever before."

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Natalie Pinkham is joined by Sky F1's Pat Symonds and Marc Priestley to preview the Russian Grand Prix

Ferrari threat changing dynamics
After three years of total dominance, Mercedes are being faced with a new challenge in 2017 with Ferrari emerging as genuine contenders for race victories.

Toto Wolff, Mercedes' motorsport boss, said after Bahrain that the team would have to conduct "proper analysis" into how Ferrari's resurgence could change the terms on which they allow their two drivers to race each other.

Hamilton agrees the situation has changed and that the instructions of the last race could be repeated, whoever is on the receiving end of the unwanted pit-wall call.

"I've never really understood it [team orders] in the past, but it's a difficult one," he said. "It's not really for me to [discuss]. There may be a race where I'm not quick enough and Valtteri's got a chance to get ahead, I've got to let him go.

Russian Grand Prix - Sky Sports F1 TV Times

Session On air Session start
Practice One 8.45am 9am
Practice Two 12.45pm 1pm
Practice Three 9.45am 10am
Qualifying 12pm 1pm
Race 11.30am 1pm

"It's of course different when we are leading the team championship, which is the ultimate goal, the team orders is much, much trickier. But when you're fighting another team and the decision that the team makes determines whether the team finishes first or second it's a huge decision to make and it's a lot more important I would say.

"Currently we are fighting Ferrari and the team are in a different position than we were in the past. So they are going to be relying on us to, hopefully, do a good job so that they never need to call for a change. Hopefully there'll be no more, but there may be a couple of times where there needs to be such a scenario.

"Look at Monaco last year, for example. The team wanted to win the race and we had the pace to win the race but Nico [Rosberg] was struggling big time. If it's only half a second it's not so bad, but if it's a second difference then that's the only time the team come in. They try to be as fair as they can."

But although he benefitted from Mercedes' instructions to Bottas in the last race, Hamilton insisted he is not a fan of gaining track position in that way.

"It definitely doesn't feel good for the guy who's asked to do the team order and the guy behind," he said. "I know there are people in the paddock who don't care when they're told the driver in front has been told to let them by. For me, it doesn't feel good, it's not a great feeling because you want to beat that guy on all merits.

"But the way the sport is now with the tyres, following is difficult, the optimum way is when you are working with a team-mate to work like a team."

Mercedes plot fightback in Sochi
Ferrari's wins in Australia and Bahrain mean Mercedes have suffered as many defeats in 2017 as the whole of last year, although they have remained ahead of their rivals in qualifying.

Hamilton and Bottas were both in action at last week's Bahrain test as Mercedes worked on ways to alleviate issues with rear tyre wear on the W08.

"Not only at the test, but analysis back at the factory, we've learnt quite a few things," said Hamilton. "We understood it and will continue to understand it going into this weekend. We'll try some things and see if it works.

"The track is different, it's not as same as the others… if we are ahead that means we've done a good job through testing."

And the triple champion says that while Mercedes may no longer be all-but assured of winning the races, there is no reason why they cannot still come out on top again.

"Clearly we are not dominating, but we are still there in the fight and it doesn't mean we can't win this championship," he added.

"I don't think there's anything we have to accept, every year is different and every challenge is different. We have been very strong for years, just because we have another opponent doesn't change it, we just have to unite and be more solid than we have in the past. But it's not a big step for us."

Will Ferrari stay ahead of the pack in Sochi? Watch the Russian GP weekend with Sky Sports F1. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday April 30. Check out all the ways to watch live F1 on Sky Sports for subscribers and non-subscribers - including a NOW TV day pass for £6.99!

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