Bottas admitted to being in denial against Hamilton at Mercedes.
After a five-year stint, the Finnish driver departed Mercedes at the end of the 2021 season to join Alfa Romeo-Sauber.
Valtteri Bottas has shared his experience of racing alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, describing it as a “state of denial.” After joining Mercedes as Nico Rosberg’s replacement in 2017, Bottas won 10 Grands Prix during his five-year tenure with the team, securing five Constructors’ titles. Although he occasionally outpaced Hamilton in qualifying, Bottas struggled to match him consistently over a full season, with his best championship finish being runner-up in 2019 and 2020.
Bottas left Mercedes after the 2021 season, signing a long-term contract with Alfa Romeo-Sauber. Reflecting on his time at Mercedes, Bottas acknowledged the difficulty of being Hamilton’s teammate and the need for self-denial to compete. He admitted that only in his final year with the team did he accept certain realities, recognizing Hamilton’s superiority in certain areas. Despite the challenges, Bottas expressed no regrets, emphasizing the delicate situation of being on one-year contracts and the importance of maintaining professionalism.
