Valtteri Bottas sympathizes with Lewis Hamilton. The British leader of Mercedes had to hand over the world title to Max Verstappen in the last round of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
“It’s great that we have won the constructors’ title again, but at the same time it hurts that Lewis couldn’t take the individual title,” said Bottas two days after the much-discussed race. “Because even for me it feels like I’ve lost a championship.”
Hamilton seemed to be heading for his eighth world title, until the safety car came onto the track in the closing phase of the race and Verstappen struck on the last lap. “I feel so bad for Lewis. I think he deserved to win,” said Bottas. ,,He had a great start and a great race, but then everything changed. That’s sports too. Sometimes it doesn’t work, sometimes it works. In any case, this was not our day.”
Bottas finished his last race for Mercedes in sixth place. The 32-year-old Finn switches to Alfa Romeo. During Tuesday’s test in Abu Dhabi with the new, larger tires for 2022, Bottas was already in a car from his new employer.
The Finn, who finished third in the World Cup standings at an appropriate distance from Verstappen and Hamilton, looked back on his five years at Mercedes on the Yas Marina Circuit. “I am very, very proud of what we have achieved together. We have done great things.”
Lewis and I are the most successful driving couple in Formula 1. So it makes me a little sad to leave this team.
Bottas won ten grands prix in that period, Hamilton fifty. They have been on stage together 53 times. “Lewis and I are the most successful driving couple in Formula 1. So I’m a little sad to be leaving this team, but I’m also looking forward to the future. It’s time for something new.”
The Finn concluded his career at Mercedes with a dip in the waters of the port of Abu Dhabi, to loud cheers from employees of the German racing stable on the side. Bottas will team up with Chinese debutant Guanyu Zhou at Alfa Romeo.
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