Hyundai WRT

[er88]

This example actually demonstrates the problem.
As you said Hyundai were (based on the 3 2017 outings in I20) expecting that Mikkelsen would fight for championship. So he was allowed to push on start of the season and this resulted in him taking points off Neuville in Sweden Power Stage. (and both him and Sordo took points off Neuville in Mexico right after)

Sure it was just one point in Sweden, but by the end of the season Neuville was very vocal that Hyundai needs to use teamorders immediately from the start. Ogier got teamorders that helped him move ahead of Evans already early in Sweden (and then a few times later on).

So based on Neuvilles and Tanaks results so far it is entirely likely that they will get free reign at the start... and potentially take points off each other that will help Ogier get a title.

In 2017 a measly point or two in a power stage wasn't the reason Neuville lost the title though. He chucked away over 50pts when in commanding leads in Monte and Sweden. The only person to blame for losing that title was Neuville himself - not the car and not his team mates taking one or two points from him in the power stages.

I envisage some tension at points between Tanak/Neuville and Adamo, but it should be irrelevant in the grand scheme of things because the manufacturers title is already won in all likelihood. Look at the difference in points between the top 3 drivers and then the next batch of drivers....., if you have Tanak and Neuville in the same team they could win the manufacturers title even with Sheikh Khalid in the 3rd car (no offence to him). But they have the GOAT and an in form Sordo as backup...

The only hope for any other team is if Lappi steps up massively + Ostberg does a few events and the C3s upgrades work brilliantly. Or if Toyotas drivers suddenly make a huge step up to become genuine championship challengers (which I cant see happening next year with Evans, Meeke or Latvala if he stays. Certainly Kalle won't in his 1st season).

As for the drivers title, I agree Tanak and Neuville could maybe work against eachother vs Ogier, but that's the risk Adamo has to manage. It certainly is an easier risk to live with when one title should already be in the bag