Valtteri Bottas eventually managed to pull himself out of a very tough five-year stint at Mercedes; The Finn spent most of his time playing second fiddle to teammate Lewis Hamilton rather than actually challenging him for the league titles.
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There was also the case of the contract offer, which often annoyed Bottas. Unlike Hamilton, Bottas never received a bulk order from Mercedes.
Instead, all of his contracts only lasted one year as the team kept him on his toes. Bottas was therefore often under immense pressure to deliver the results demanded by Mercedes.
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Amid a new journey with Alfa Romeo on the horizon, former F1 driver Mika Häkkinen opined that the world could finally experience the best of Bottas.
What did the Finnish F1 driver say?
Speaking to SuomiF1, Häkkinen admitted that Bottas will no longer drive for a team as dominant as Mercedes. Despite stepping back from a top-field team to a mid-field team, the Finn felt Bottas could finally breathe a sigh of relief, especially as Alfa Romeo rest their full faith in him, a factor Mercedes lacked.
Valtteri Bottas of Finland and Mercedes GP prepare to drive in the garage during the final practice session before the Saudi Arabian F1 Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Bryn Lennon – Formula One/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
“Valtteri is a great team player and driver. He will drive in a nice stable. However, he will not fight for comparable investments compared to Mercedes times. The resources of the teams are not comparable,” said Häkkinen.
“But now he can prepare for the long term.”
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Häkkinen admits Mercedes was too harsh
Häkkinen envisioned the situation Bottas had to struggle through after every single F1 season with Mercedes. And he eventually concluded that Mercedes’ lack of creditworthiness caused Bottas to lose confidence.
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“At Mercedes there was always light at the end of the tunnel with annual contracts, but there was always a closed door waiting. This insecurity gnaws at self-confidence. He did not get the loan he wanted from Mercedes. If you keep having the mat pulled under your feet, it eats away at your confidence,” he said.
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN during Formula 1 testing at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Hasan Bratic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
“Now Valtteri has the opportunity to drive long-term in the stable where he is trusted.”
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Overall, Bottas is in for a pretty enticing season as he finds himself under very little pressure and also with massive support from Alfa Romeo. Will the ten-time Grand Prix winner be in his best form yet for the Sauber-led team?
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