Who will compete in the Mercedes Silver Arrow next to Formula 1 record world champion Lewis Hamilton? Valtteri Bottas wants to maintain his place against the promising talent George Russell.
This article first appeared on RTL.de.
It is well known that self-promotion often stinks. But what else can Valtteri Bottas do in the fight for his Formula 1 future at Mercedes than to emphasize his own advantages? Exactly, nothing! In an interview, the Finn explained why he would be the right garage neighbor for Lewis Hamilton in 2022.
Toto Wolff has the last word
“I don’t know any driver as well as myself and my skills, so it’s always hard to comment on”said Bottas at ESPN about the fight for the second Mercedes cockpit between him and Silver Crown Prince George Russell.
But what he “with confidence” could say: “I’m a good investment for the team and it would definitely be different if I weren’t here. I trust my abilities, but I don’t make the decisions.
That’s probably true, the last word still has the Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff. And he will tell Bottas and his rival George Russell at the end of August who will be in the Silver Arrow next year.
Valtteri Bottas: It would be different without me
Bottas’ statement, “it would definitely be different without me”, however, makes it clear: In poker, he is clearly playing for what is perhaps the most coveted F1 cockpit “Wingman”-Map. Look here, I’m the reliable (auxiliary) force in the duel with Red Bull. I don’t make a stink (unlike possibly Russell), on the contrary: I get along with Lewis, together we create a great atmosphere in the team.
That may all be true. Alone: Very few believe that Wolff will let the highly talented Russell perish for another year at Williams. The Briton – his achievements show this once again this season – is ripe for Mercedes, ripe for the generation duel with compatriot Hamilton.
Other teams? Bottas keeps a low profile
For Bottas, the end at Mercedes would probably not mean the end of his Formula 1 career. Williams, where the 31-year-old drove from 2013 to 2016, is an option. And at the Hungarian GP, the Bottas management is said to have negotiated with Alfa Romeo team boss Frédéric Vasseur. Botta’s compatriot Kimi Räikkönen could inherit from the Italians.
The vice world champion is keeping a low profile in this regard. “I prefer to keep this to myself [ob er mit anderen Teams gesprochen habe]- maybe I have, maybe not. But I have a lot of people around me and of course they didn’t just rest at home”said Bottas.
Of course you have to “Have a sense of what is available out there, what the possibilities are. I have the feeling that I haven’t been told exactly how far the conversations are elsewhere because I’m focusing on racing”, said the nine-time GP winner. And: “If I need to talk to other teams, I’ll do that.”
Somehow it sounds clear. Definitely after Mercedes said goodbye.
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I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
