Massa stands by decision to ignore team orders at Malaysian GP

Sepang: Williams driver Felipe Massa stood by his decision to ignore team orders to let teammate Valtteri Bottas pass him in the closing stages of Sunday's Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix, saying the team should recognise that he has his own interests to pursue in the drivers' championship.

Massa was repeatedly told to let Bottas pass to enable the Finn to chase the McLaren of Jenson Button, but Massa refused to make way, and finished seventh and Bottas eighth, with Button holding on for sixth.

It was reminder of the infamous 2010 German GP when Massa was ordered to make way for then Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso, and also of last year's Malaysian GP when Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel ignored team orders and passed Mark Webber for the race win.