Whatever anyone thinks of the whole team orders debate, rearing its head again following the Malaysian GP, no one can surely deny the reprehensible nature of Sebastian Vettel's actions in ignoring them.

I've read many articles with a variety of points of view. Some point to the inevitable distrust now bestowed between the World Champion and his team mate. Some say team boss, Christian Horner was too weak from his position on the pitwall, others suggest that Seb was right to do what he did, as it's that ruthlessness which wins World Championships. I've read pieces suggesting that the team should ban its championship leading driver for a race as punishment or that Mark Webber may never race for the team again.

Basically, every possible view, scenario and opinion has been written about, I've agreed with some, vehemently disagreed with others, but one thing's for certain, people haven't been talking about F1 this much for some time.

As I watched events play out during the race, fascinated along with everyone else, I couldn't help being reminded of a similar situation I'd been involved with myself.

During my time working for McLaren, team orders and driver disagreements played roles of varying importance and significance over the years, but none more so than that fateful year in 2007.

McLaren have always very publicly stated that its drivers are never given a number one or number two status. It's a commendable stance, one which the general public understands and often appreciates and one which under most circumstances doesn't cause many issues.

Normally, over the time of any driver pairing, a perceived leader emerges. Based naturally around results, one of the two will become more successful than the other, but at McLaren, as I'm sure is the case with most teams, they would always get the same opportunities.

When it comes to deciding race strategy on the Saturday night after qualifying, the data normally suggests an optimum lap on which to make your first pitstop (plan A), the way McLaren decided who got to make that decision was, whoever's ahead in the World Championship gets first call. Mika and DC, for example, would always begin by trading wins and podiums, but before long, one would break away and eventually be deemed as the team's best opportunity to win. Only when it became no longer possible for the second placed driver to challenge for the title, would the idea of helping a team mate to victory ever really be considered.

Of course the team orders in Sepang were not issued to help one driver over the other, they were purely and simply put in place to ensure that the team came home with maximum points.