While having a dominant driver win the championship can be a gift for the team, it can often turn out to be a curse for the other driver in the same car. A teammate is a driver’s biggest and most direct rival in Formula 1 and it can be difficult to keep up with a world champion for obvious reasons. Valtteri Bottas is in a similar situation as he has been overshadowed by the dominance of Lewis Hamilton.
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In these difficult times for Finn, however, his compatriot Mika Häkkinen understands what Bottas is going through. Because Hakkinen himself drove alongside Ayrton Senna, who is still considered one of the best drivers in Formula 1 today.
Häkkinen understands Bottas’ situation at Mercedes
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The Finn partnered with Senna during his McLaren days. Häkkinen knew how well the Brazilian was at the wheel, so he can refer to Valtteri’s situation when faced with Hamilton.
The former world champion said: “I know what it is like to compete against the best driver of a generation – in my case Ayrton Senna – and have worked with very strong team-mates throughout my career. From Johnny Herbert to Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell to Nigel Mansell and of course David Coulthard.
Formula 1 F1 – Styria Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – June 27, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri Bottas after finishing second and third REUTERS / Darko Vojinovic
“When McLaren put me in their car next to Ayrton Senna, it was a fantastic opportunity, but a huge challenge. Suddenly it was my experience versus Ayrton’s experience. And what is “experience”?
“Is it the number of laps you’ve done, or your ability to study the data, or how smart and intelligent you are about what’s going on on the team?” Concluded Häkkinen.
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Will Valtteri Bottas ride alongside Lewis next season?
It has long been rumored that Bottas’ days at Silver Arrows are numbered and he is likely to be replaced by George Russell of Williams. In addition, the Finn is in his last year of contract with the Brackley team, which continues to speculate about his departure from the team.
Since joining in 2017, the driver with the number 77 has helped Mercedes select four constructors’ championships. While he looks forward to adding another to his balance sheet this season, he has failed to make a significant contribution to Mercedes’ title win this season.
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Formula 1 F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – May 8, 2021 Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes during the press conference after qualifying in third place FIA / handout via REUTERS
If Bottas and Mercedes split up, however, he will certainly be viewed as an underrated driver who would have won a championship without Hamilton’s dominance.
Nevertheless, the Finn is looking forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. He is hoping for important points that will help his team to regain the lead in the constructors’ championship.
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