“It’s a shame he’s leaving Mercedes”: Sebastian Vettel shares his thoughts on future Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas

"It's a shame he's leaving Mercedes": Sebastian Vettel shares his thoughts on future Alfa Romeo driver Valtteri Bottas

Sebastian Vettel admits that he would have liked for Valtteri Bottas to stay at Mercedes but predicts a happy future for him. 

Bottas raced in his 101st and last race for Mercedes at the Abu Dhabi GP this year. He will move to Alfa Romeo racing, where he will team up with Guanyu Zhou from 2022 onwards. Bottas already took part in the post-season test with his future team but will officially join them after the new year.

4-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel praised Bottas’ character in a recent interview. The Aston Martin driver hailed the Finn as ‘straightforward’ and feels he would have done well if he stayed at Mercedes.

On the other hand, the 34-year-old also feels that Bottas will be happy at Alfa Romeo. The latter hasn’t had the smoothest of times in Brackley, despite winning 10 races with the Silver Arrows.

“Somehow I think it’s a shame that he has to leave Mercedes.” said Vettel

“But maybe the new regulations at Alfa Romeo in 2022 will help him, so that things will finally be more balanced in the field and he’ll have more chances.”

Also read: Sebastian Vettel lauds Mick Schumacher for a promising rookie year in Formula 1

Sebastian Vettel praises Bottas for being one of the fastest drivers on the grid

Vettel praised the former Williams driver for being a commanding character on the F1 grid. He feels that Bottas will not have to play second fiddle to anyone at Alfa Romeo, which would keep him happy.

According to Seb, Bottas was treated relatively at Mercedes but also admitted that teaming up with Lewis Hamilton was not easy for the 32-year-old.

“Valtteri is one of the most straightforward and honest drivers.” the German continued. “And above all, he is also one of the fastest drivers in the field. I’m happy that he can play a much more central role there than before.”

“Valtteri certainly didn’t always have it easy in his five years alongside Hamilton. But I am also sure that he was always treated fairly at Mercedes.” Vettel concluded.

Also read: Max Verstappen comments on his strained relationship with Lewis Hamilton during the 2021 season

Post Edited By: Tanish Chachra
Alfa Romeo Mercedes Sebastian Vettel Valtteri Bottas

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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