Despite having secured the title in Mexico, Lewis Hamilton admits he has no plans to 'gift' a win to teammate Valtteri Bottas in either of the two remaining races, despite the Finn's vital role as wingman this year.

In Russia, while leading, Bottas was called on to move aside for Hamilton, thereby allowing the Briton to consolidate his championship lead over Sebastian Vettel, a move that proved controversial in terms of the Finn and race fans, not to mention team orders being blatantly used just days after the sport agreed a multi-million deal to allow in-race live betting.

Asked, ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix if there were plans to 'return the favour', Hamilton said: "The team are not going to make that call.

"It's not something I've asked Valtteri if he wants," he added, "but I don't think he's going to want that. He's going to want to win it in his own way. So I don't think I'll be doing him any favours in the sense of giving him a win, I don't think he needs that... I think he thinks he can do it himself.

"All I can do is try and make sure I'm supportive throughout the weekend. I'm always really open with my set-up, so I'll continue to do so."

"I definitely don't want to win if it's given to me," said Bottas in a subsequent media briefing. "I want to win by doing it by myself."

Of course, with the drivers' title out of the way, the Finn won't be called on to play wingman and will thereby be free to 'do his own thing'.

"Yes, definitely," he smiled. "Coming here knowing that there is a possibility to win a race is obviously a good feeling.

"You all know what my goal will be for this weekend, so it's going to be up to me and I need to perform at my best level to fight for the win."

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1. Posted by YuppieScum, 08/11/2018 21:57

"If I were Toto, I'd ensure that HAM takes an engine - and, perhaps, gearbox - penalty for Brazil.

That way, HAM can have some fun racing from the back of the grid, and BOT can race for the win on his own merit."

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2. Posted by PlayF1, 08/11/2018 21:31

"I like that ... putting it all on the line.
Let's not forget that this is the ideal moment ... when the edge (of LH) is normally blunted.

If LH is the greatest racer of all time ... now is when the playing field will be levelled (from past history).
Let's see what VB can do...

But whatever it might be; it will be all too little, and too late (methinks).

KR also had to play the team ball; yet he is above VB in the points.
So at very least, VB's only remaining goal is to 'best' KR."

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Hamilton not planning to gift Bottas a win

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