Finnish F1 driver Valtteri Bottas begins a new chapter in 2022 with the Alfa Romeo racing team. After a fairly successful time with the Mercedes team, Bottas left the team at the end of the 2021 season. His new boss Frédéric Vasseur says Bottas is aware of the team’s abilities. In addition, Vasseur is convinced that the Finn will not be frustrated because he is not at the top of the grid.
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In his 5 years with the Brackley-based team, Bottas won 10 races and secured 58 podiums. However, those performances did nothing to establish a serious title challenge against teammate Hamilton. The Finn had had some great weekends but that didn’t help him shed his ‘wingman’ status within the team.
Now, after playing second fiddle to Lewis Hamilton for years, Bottas is the most important man in his new team. His experience with the top team will surely help him build a better equation at Alfa Romeo.
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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 14: Valtteri Bottas of Finland drives the (77) Alfa Romeo Racing C41 Ferrari during Formula 1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit on December 14, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Joe Portlock – Formula One/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Valtteri Bottas knows that this is a medium-term project – Frédéric Vasseur
Alfa Romeo F1 Team team director Vasseur believes the team will not disappoint Bottas as he is not aiming for a championship here. When Bottas left the Mercedes team, his only regret was not having won a championship. A team in the lower midfield like Alfa Romeo cannot offer him that and he is aware of that.
In a recent interview, Vasseur discussed Bottas’ approach at length with the team. “He might get frustrated if the project became a champion,” says Vasseur. “But he knows very well that this is a medium-term project and we want to do our best. In every session I want to do a better job than the day before and I think we have to have that mentality and we will have it.”
Though many expect some sort of shift in performance dynamics for the 2022 season, Vasseur says Bottas doesn’t have unrealistic expectations.
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“He also knows that we are starting from the second part of the grid. He’s pretty smart. He knows the level of the team and the technology of the team and knows that as long as our goals are similar it’s not a problem,” he added.
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Now, with a new team and valuable experience behind them, there’s a fair chance Bottas will act more autonomously than ever. The 2022 season is associated with many imponderables. Where do you think Bottas will end up next season?
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