After a year of speculation on Mercedes’ driver lineup, we now have our first official confirmation: Bottas is out.
Valtteri Bottas, the current Mercedes-AMG driver, has officially signed a multi-year contract with Alfa Romeo Racing that will begin in 2022. The Finn will take over for Kimi Raikkonen, who announced his retirement last week. Perhaps most importantly, Bottas’ seat at one of F1’s two current top-tier teams is no longer usable. It is almost certain that Williams driver George Russell will fill it.
The shadow war between Russell and Bottas has been one of the season’s main plotlines. Bottas, who has nine race wins in four years with Mercedes, appeared to be the clear favorite. Despite his serious speed, he’s often been criticized for a lack of racecraft and passing ability. And when Russell had his first shot in the Mercedes in 2020, he embarrassed Bottas by outpacing him in qualifying, outpacing him in the race, and mounting a charge through the field following a pit-stop debacle that outshined pretty much any moment in Bottas’ career. Mercedes blew it for him, but he already proved he could deliver a Hamilton-esque performance that Bottas never quite pulled off.
Despite this, Bottas has shown pace and clear talent. However, with increased competitiveness and the long-term issue of star driver Lewis Hamilton’s possible retirement, Mercedes had an incentive to shake things up. Meanwhile, Raikkonen’s departure leaves Alfa hungry for experience and speed as it enters the new era defined by the rule change in 2022. Bottas provides it. And, while it’s unlikely that Bottas had a say in his departure from Mercedes, it’s a good thing he has a place to land.
Alfa has not yet confirmed its second driver for the 2022 season, although current driver Antonio Giovinazzi appears to be a natural fit. Still, in a year when the car is changing dramatically, there’s a chance that the team goes with an all-new roster. We’ll have to wait and see if more drivers become available. In any case, expect Mercedes to make the next official announcement. George Russell, Mister Saturday himself and an incredible rising talent in the sport, will almost certainly get his shot in a top-tier car. If he can achieve what Bottas never did and mount a real challenge to Hamilton, we could be in for an incredible battle.
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