Lewis Hamilton says he won't try and back his team-mate Nico Rosberg into those behind, after Red Bull team principal Christian Horner suggested it was the Briton's best way of winning the championship.
With Rosberg heading into the weekend with a 12-point advantage, Hamilton needs to win with Rosberg fourth or lower, and that means two cars need to be between the pair. Horner suggested Hamilton would be "smart" to intentionally slow Rosberg into the cars behind.
Hamilton however says he won't be playing such games as it could cost him the race win.
"I was only just made aware of what Christian had said and a joke came into my mind, thinking I should say he gave me a call to discuss it… as we heard Toto had given him a call, or something, about the drivers in the last race – but I won’t say that because it’s not true.
"Obviously Nico’s been on pole for the last two year here. He’s been very, very quick. This has generally been a relatively strong circuit for me but I have not delivered in the last two years, so my sole goal is to do so, make sure I’m at my best this weekend as I have been the last couple of races.
"In terms of tactics in the race, that has to come on Sunday. I have to really think about that. But that’s not really ever been my thought process. I’ve always just really just tried to… if I’m out ahead I want to be generally as far ahead as possible."
When asked specifically about Horner's advice, Hamilton replied: "While in theory it sounds like it makes a lot of sense, practically it’s not very practical to do.
"You have two long DRS zones here. Wouldn’t be very easy and very wise to do so. So, no."
