Mercedes know that on Sunday, once lap 55 has been completed, that one of their two drivers will be crowned the 2014 World Champion.
It’s a fact that’s been known for some time, but what’s also known is that one will succeed and one won’t and it’s precisely that fact that puts the team in a difficult position on Sunday evening.
Celebrating the winner will leave the other driver feeling left out when they’re already suffering from defeat and that’s why Mercedes have hinted at low-key celebrations on Sunday in respect of the ‘loser’.
“We have thought about this situation for a long time,” Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff said.
“It’s going to be a great day for one of the drivers and it’s going to be a very difficult for one of them. As a team, we must remain neutral and there is a plan in place for how we want to handle this situation.
“They are valuable members of the team, we are going to continue with them next year, and while we’re going to honour and celebrate the World Championship-winning driver you need to respect that for the other guy it’s going to be a very difficult day in his life.
“This is why we would like to maintain our role of being fairly neutral in that situation.”
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