With the 2021 season drawing to a close, it was only a matter of time before Mercedes announced George Russell as the second driver. It was pretty obvious that Valtteri Bottas was going to lose his seat, but it was only a matter of when. Since none of the top teams had any chances for Bottas, it was Alfa Romeo who managed to convince and snap the Finn.
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And they are happy to have Bottas with them. Actually. Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur compared the move to Hamilton’s move from McLaren to Mercedes.
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Fred Vasseur has managed to convince Valtteri Bottas to join Alfa Romeo on the pretext that Alfa Romeo is slowly finding a foothold in the game after poor form in 2018 and 2019, with Antonio Giovinazzi in the top 10 a few times landed this season.
What did Vasseur say about the move from Valtteri Bottas?
Vasseur wants Alfa Romeo’s move from Bottas to be the kind of move Hamilton made to Mercedes in 2013. However, he went ahead and stated that he did not compare Alfa Romeo to Mercedes.
Formula 1 F1 – Italian Grand Prix – Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza, Italy – September 10, 2021 Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes after qualifying in pole position for the Sprint Qualifying Pool via REUTERS / Lars Baron
“I don’t compare the team to Mercedes!” Said Vasseur. But the philosophy is similar. Pick a team that others don’t because you’ve seen something appealing in them that others don’t.
“Lewis is incredibly fast,” said Vasseur. “The best driver of the last … I don’t know, maybe the best driver! But the best move he probably took was when he left McLaren [for 2013]. And at that point everyone was shouting at him. ‘What does he do? He’s on the top team. Mercedes is struggling. ‘”
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Vasseur has long-term plans for Alfa Romeo
Fred emphasized that it was a long-term project; Regardless of where you are in 2020 or 2021, with Bottas on the team you are now looking forward to turning your fortune until 2023 or 2024. In an earlier interview he said he was ready to lead Bottas to be Alfa Romeo’s leader for the next few years.
Formula 1 F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – May 7, 2021 Alfa Romeo Racing Team Principal Frederic Vasseur speaks in the press conference of the FIA / Handout about REUTERS A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALE. NO ARCHIVES
It is quite unlikely that the move will bring Bottas the same level of success that Mercedes could offer Hamilton. But with the upcoming changes to the regulation for 2022, nothing can be said for sure.
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