Locking up the constructors ‘title – almost mortgaged, with a 28-point lead in the standings – and trying to get Lewis Hamilton to win the eighth world championship title in his career will be Mercedes’ two main objectives in the last GP of the season, in Abu Dhabi. But the classification reasons will not be the only ones to make Sunday’s race special for the Brackley team. The appointment of Yas Marina will in fact be the last one at the wheel of the Mercedes for Valtteri Bottas. The Finn is the third-ever driver in terms of number of GPs disputed with the Stella team and was fundamental in at least two of the titles won by Hamilton and Mercedes, in the two-year period 2017-2018.
In the last two seasons, the native of Nastola has tried unsuccessfully to challenge his teammate, finishing second in the championship in both 2019 and 2020. This year, however, he has returned to his bittersweet ‘role’ as a follower. A job that, albeit reluctantly, # 77 has always performed at the best of his career abilities. The Abu Dhabi race will be his last before passage in Alfa Romeo, but the very high stakes mean that the attention remains focused entirely on the present: “A new chapter will open for me after this race. the Finn explained to the official F1 channel – but now I want to enjoy this weekend to the fullest“.
“Normally this is also the best approach to getting results – Bottas added – certainly it is the end of an era, but the emotions will come after the race. Now they are not there yet. Also because, given the situation, there would not even be much room for emotions – he joked, obviously referring to the world championship challenge – I think they will all come later. I still have a role to play for the team as the race in the constructors’ championship is still open. And I hope I can also help Lewis for the drivers’ championship. There is a lot at stake. I’m ready, as is Lewis and the whole team. Who win? Lewis“he concluded.
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