• Valtteri Bottas is having a difficult Formula 1 season in 2021.
• The driver, who has been with Mercedes since 2017, is currently fourth in the championship standings.
• Bottas could be replaced in the team towards the end of the season.
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Valtteri Bottas’ term of office with the Mercedes-AMG team could end at the end of the current season – if the rumors circulating in the paddock are to be believed.
Bottas came to Mercedes-AMG after Nico Rosberg retired after becoming Formula 1 champion in 2016.
Despite the challenge of having Lewis Hamilton as a teammate, the Finn has given everything for the team since his debut in 2017.
Bottas’ progress (or lack thereof) followed a familiar pattern – he would bring the championship fight to Hamilton in one of the two fastest cars on the grid, but he ran out of breath as the season progressed.
The driver would come out of the blocks very strongly at the start of the season but would end up playing second fiddle to the power of Hamilton.
For Bottas, a racer in the lower categories, this couldn’t have been the easiest pill. Nevertheless, he showed up with renewed energy every season to defend his claim as a title contender.
2021 was and is no different, but the driver fell out of the championship fight much faster than in any other year that has driven for the Silver Arrows. And with rumors suggesting he will be replaced by George Russell in 2022, Bottas’ motivations could have taken a blow if it actually did.
Rival the champion
Bottas had a hot time against Hamilton in the first half of 2021. In the eleven races that have come and gone, he only defeated the defending champion twice in qualifying and in the races.
He has not yet taken a win this year and has failed to finish three races. In total, he collected 108 points in the first half of the season, 87 points behind Hamilton (195 points). Bottas is currently fourth in the drivers’ standings behind Max Verstappen (Red Bull, 187 points) and Lando Norris (McLaren-Mercedes, 113 points).
While we haven’t yet received confirmation of Bottas’ future at Mercedes, it’s not wrong to assume that the team has informed him of his plans.
And by the time he’s actually on his way out, his drive and passion for driving for the most dominant team in F1 history could already be on the rise.
If Russell makes the leap to Mercedes next year, a seat at Williams will become vacant – which could result in the Finn returning to the team he left at the end of the 2016 season.
If so, Bottas could find new motivation to improve his game and rebuild Williams to be a podium candidate again.
This could probably be the best choice for the driver as a full regulatory overhaul will come into play in 2022. Who knows, maybe Williams and Bottas need each other to change their respective fortunes …
The post OPINION | Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes F1 end is rumored, but hope could lurk elsewhere first appeared on monter-une-startup.
