The Finnish driver will replace his compatriot Kimi Räikkönen after spending the last five years in Mercedes
The Finnish pilot Valtteri Bottas, Nine-time Grand Prix champion, disengages from the German team Mercedes and will replace his compatriot Kimi Raikkonen in the Swiss team Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season after the signing of a multi-year contract, Sauber said in an official statement.
boots (Nastola, Finland, 1989) will leave the ranks of Mercedes after five years taking on a secondary role, overshadowed by the British seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. Previously, the two-time world runner-up (2019 and 2020), he drove for the English team Williams, From 2013 until his signing by Mercedes.
“A new chapter opens in my career as a driver: I’m excited to join Alfa Romeo for what will be a new challenge with an iconic manufacturer. It will be an honor to represent this brand, “the pilot said.
boots was grateful to his new team and has assured that he is “enjoying the opportunity to help the team advance on the grid, especially with the new regulations in 2022 that give the team the opportunity to make a leap in performance “.
“I’m more hungry than ever to run for results and, when the time comes, for the victories, “he said boots.
The brand new signing of Alfa Romeo he made it clear that, despite being excited about next year, he is still focused on this season with which he is still his team: “I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the team I will work with, building relationships as strong as that I have a Mercedes. I am proud of what I have achieved in Brackley (his Mercedes) i i’m completely focused on finishing the job while we fight for another world championship“But I am also looking forward to the new challenges that await me next year.”
Frédéric Vasseur, team director Alfa Romeo, Valued the arrival of boots to the team: “It is a pleasure to welcome Valtteri to the team and we look forward to our journey together. He is the right pilot to help Alfa Romeo to take a step forward towards the front of the grid “.
“The multi – year contract he brings us gives so much to Valtteri as the team the stability we need to build our project at a crucial time for the formula. We are excited about what awaits us in the future, “Vasseur added.
The announcement of boots a Alfa Romeo leaves a seat free Mercedes who has long seemed to have master. the British George Russell is the candidate who sounds loudest to accompany Lewis Hamilton to the German team, which in turn would cause the Thai Alex Albon, Austrian team driver Red Bull last season, take the place of Russell in the Williams.
the next Formula 1 Grand Prix will be next September 12 at Monza (Italy), in the ‘Temple of Speed’, home of the Italian team Ferrari. Mercedes comes first in the constructors’ classification, but it is the Dutch Max Verstappen who leads by three points a Hamilton in the world of pilots.