Signs of a Mercedes fall out?

While the Red Bull fall out following the Malaysian Grand Prix was obvious, it would appear that there are also rumblings behind Mercedes team orders as well.

Red Bull’s issues have been well documented, a team order was given, Sebastian Vettel ignored it and the fall out over his actions was played out over the radio for everyone around the world to hear.

At Mercedes, a team order was also given, Nico Rosberg argued the decision over the radio for everyone around the world to hear, but ultimately respected the decision from his team principal Ross Brawn, held station and finished in fourth behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Nico Rosberg refused to criticise the decision to the media following the race, while Lewis Hamilton apologised to Rosberg despite it being taken out of the 2008 Formula One World Champions control.

Mercedes executive director Toto Wolff also stood by the decision and explained to ESPN: ‘There was no controversy, Both [drivers] had a bit of fuel issue and we were not sure if we could run them until the end and both of them were advised they had the issue. Nico showed that he is a fantastic team player and he held onto the position and we would have done it in the opposite way as well.

‘It’s not perfect from the sporting point of view it’s not what the people want to see and not what I want to see, but sometimes you have to take a call and you have to make a decision and Ross did that.

However not everyone at Mercedes was happy, Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda questioned the decision leading to some to wonder if there is there a power struggle going on behind the scenes at Mercedes AMG?

‘From a sporting perspective, that was wrong, They should have let [Rosberg] go. We need to talk to Ross, if this is the strategy to be used from now on.’ Lauda told the Times.

Throughout the winter it has been rumoured that Brawn could be set to leave Mercedes. With Wolff becoming executive director, Lauda becoming non-executive chairman and the expected arrival of former McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe it isn’t clear just what the future holds for Brawn at Mercedes.