Valtteri Bottas will leave Mercedes at the end of the current season and join Alfa Romeo on a “multi-year deal”, the Formula One team confirmed on Monday.
Bottas’ departure from world champions Mercedes was widely expected and he is likely to be replaced by Britain’s George Russell, currently of Williams, alongside record title-holder Lewis Hamilton.
“A new chapter in my racing career is opening,” the 32-year-old Finn Bottas said on the Alfa Romeo homepage.
“I’m grateful for the trust the team has put in me and I cannot wait to repay their faith: I’m as hungry as ever to race for results and, when the time comes, for wins.”
Bottas has won nine grands prix with Mercedes, his team since he replaced Nico Rosberg alongside Hamilton in 2017.
But while a solid understudy to Hamilton, Bottas rarely looked capable of challenging for a world title and Russell, 23, has impressed both in a limited Williams car and while deputising for Hamilton when he had the coronavirus at the end of last season.
Russell could be announced as a Mercedes driver for 2022 as early as Tuesday.
“I am so proud of everything we have achieved together in my time with Mercedes – and it is not over yet, because we have our biggest challenge so far to try and claim our eighth constructors’ title,” said Bottas
“When I look back on my time with Mercedes, I want to be able to say that I squeezed every drop out of this opportunity and left nothing on the table; and I want to make sure that we finish our time together as champions.”
Bottas helped Mercedes to constructors’ titles in each season with the team so far and ahead of Sunday’s Italian Grand Prix, they lead the standings by 12 points from Red Bull.
Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen will retire at the end of 2021 to make way for Bottas but other current driver Antonio Giovinazzi has not yet confirmed his spot for next season.
Simoc
Guest
nonsense. Bottas has multiple poles and is the perfect fit at Mercedes for Hamilton. But Merc have invested heavily in Russell and he left them with little choice but to make that call. Which is the right one. Marko from Red Bull describes it perfectly. What more could Russell have done? He is the heir apparent and the right time is now.
Mark
Guest
Except that the year you are referring to, 2007, was the first year at McLaren F1 for both Alonso (who won his 2 world titles in 2005/06 at Renault) and Hamilton. In the end both just missed out on the 2007 title - Raikkonen won for Ferrari (in the year of "Spygate"). If you are suggesting that Russell might outperform his new teammate in Hamilton, who will be in his 10th year at Mercedes next year, it's possible, but unlikely.
Sheikh
Roar Rookie
Yeah, it's a bit odd that's he's tended to start the seasons well, and then only flicker; the occasional race where he'll put Hamilton to shame and then switch off again. He should be able to help Alfa Romeo, as he's reported to be a decent testing driver; can put in consistent laps so you can see the effects of changes on the car, and reports back to the engineers with useful information. But I don't think we'll see him near the front of a race again unless there's rain or multiple retirements. Just didn't have that little extra to turn a good driver into a great one.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Bottas was a disappointment. Looked like he was going to challenge Hamilton a couple of times, then fell away after the 4th/5th race of the season. :unhappy:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Possibly.
Damo
Guest
History repeating when Hamilton became Alonso's co-driver all those years ago?
JGK
Roar Guru
Very excited to see what Russell can do next year.