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Originally Posted by F1Guy
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Looking closely at what Vettel says though, it is not as clear cut as just denying team orders exist.
One thing that Schumacher was regularly criticised for was the fact that his teammates would pull aside and let him past. This is what the general viewer seems to take offence too as 'team orders'.
Most F1 viewers can accept that tactics play a part in F1, and are willing to forgive a driver acting as a rear-gunner for their teammate. They also are generally fine with giving a tow in qualifying, even if the driver sacrifices their own result.
It is this kind of tactical play that I think Vettel is wanting to portray as happening at Ferrari, in an attempt to make them seem more sporting than Mercedes. A clear #1 and #2 in a team is fine, and he is putting forward the claim that Ferrari allows a #2 driver to properly race, but will also be the recipient of the least preferred position when it comes to tactical decisions such as when to pit.
At the season's end, if Hamilton wins the title, Vettel wants the narrative to read that Mercedes used team orders to give Hamilton the title, with Bottas handing over positions without a challenge, whilst Ferrari employed tactics to give him the best chance but he still had to compete with his teammate to get the results.