99 races together, from 2017 to today. Lewis Hamilton And Valtteri Bottas in Abu Dhabi they are ready to reach the triple figure for the number of Grands Prix played by teammates. Quota 100, the symbolic number par excellence, will be touched on a special weekend for many reasons. The drivers ‘and constructors’ titles still on the table, with Hamilton one step away from becoming the most titled driver ever in F1 history; the fierce challenge against Max Verstappen and Red Bull, for which the role of Valtteri Bottas will also be fundamental; and finally the fact that Sunday will be the last GP as a Mercedes driver for the native of Nastola.
We’ve come a long way, me and @ValtteriBottas. Let’s do it up big for our last as teammates pic.twitter.com/oIBmU0buDY
– Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) December 10, 2021
Arriving in 2017 as a last-minute replacement to replace Nico Rosberg, Bottas has played a pivotal role in all eight world titles – four drivers and as many constructors – won by Mercedes so far during his time at Brackley. Despite himself he was never able to challenge Lewis Hamilton, but he proved to be a loyal teammate to the extreme. Hamilton himself, on many occasions, repeated how the Finn was his “best boxmate“. Obviously not from a speed point of view, but from a teamwork point of view. Thus, on the eve of the probably most difficult weekend of his career, the seven-time world champion ‘invoked’ the closeness of his friend and teammate.
On his social channels, at the end of the activity on the track, Hamilton wrote a few but clear words, directly ‘tagging’ Bottas for one last ride together, to conquer two other world titles: drivers and manufacturers. “We have come a long way, me and Valtteri Bottas – Hamilton wrote – let’s do it big for our latest [gara] as teammates“.
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