The announcement of the switch came last week, when Hamilton, aged 39, activated a clause in his new contract and signed with the oldest, most successful, and most glamorous team in the sport. Bottas, speaking at a livery launch for his Sauber-run Stake F1 team in London on Monday night, expressed his surprise at the news. He had believed that Hamilton would stay at Mercedes, but he understands that in Formula 1, things can change unexpectedly. Bottas sees the move as a positive one for Hamilton, offering him a fresh start. Furthermore, he believes that Hamilton’s decision will have a ripple effect on the drivers’ market, causing movement and changes in other teams.
Hamilton will be joining Ferrari, a team that has not won a championship since 2008. The team has seen multiple champions like Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso attempt and fail to secure F1 Titles since their last Driver’s Champion, Kimi Raikkonen, in 2007. Hamilton, the most successful driver in the history of the sport with a record 103 wins, is expected to fit in well at Ferrari. The team is now led by Frenchman Fred Vasseur, who previously worked with Hamilton during his junior career. Bottas has confidence in Hamilton’s ability to adapt and work with different people in the sport. He believes that Hamilton’s experience will be an asset in his pursuit of success with Ferrari.
Bottas, on the other hand, faces an uncertain future in the sport. As he enters his 12th season, the 34-year-old is unsure of what lies ahead. He and Hamilton were teammates at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, a period that saw the team dominate the sport. Bottas has been increasingly involved in his interests outside of Formula 1, particularly in cycling and promoting his own brands of wine, coffee, and gin. He feels that he has found the right balance with these projects and hopes to continue pursuing them even after his F1 career comes to an end. With his current contract allowing him to be involved in alcohol-related ventures, Bottas is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin)