Mercedes boss mindset explored after 'so difficult' team orders decision

Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has explored the mindset of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who made the "so difficult" decision to let his drivers race in Monza.

Kimi Antonelli recovered from 19th on the grid to lead home another Mercedes one-two in the Italian Grand Prix, with the youngster taking the lead with three laps remaining.

Not for the first time this season, Antonelli and Russell battled hard across large portions of the race, with the championship leader at one stage going off the circuit.

A call did come to both drivers mid-race to hold position in an attempt to break away from Max Verstappen, which did lead to a brief moment of calm on circuit.

However, that went out of the window in the final laps, when the pair went to battle again for the Monza win. It was a situation where Wolff could have easily instructed the duo not to fight, yet no call came from the Austrian.

Coulthard praised the decision and the pure racer in the Mercedes boss, although he conceded that it must have been an extremely challenging choice to make.

Discussing Wolff not introducing team orders, Coulthard said on the Up to Speed podcast: "It was interesting, but to try and understand how close he was to sort of pushing the radio button to say, 'Right, guys, you know, we just need good points here. Of course, we want to win, but we don't need you tripping over each other.' 

"And there was a moment early in the race where they did sort of calm them down. But in the latter stages, when the race came back on, I was going to say, 'I'm proud of Toto,' but who the hell am I to be proud of him? 

"But it must be so difficult to not push that button because if you put yourself there, you're a shareholder and the team principal, and you're going to have a one-two. 

"Putting your commercial head on, it would be really difficult. Putting your racer's head on, you'd be like, 'Right, bring it. Let's create something for the ages.'"