Away from Lewis Hamilton's Shadow, 33-Year-Old Valtteri Bottas Hopes to Defy the F1 Odds: "More experienced and better"

While Lewis Hamilton has stayed a constant at Mercedes, he has seen a change of guards when it comes to his teammates. Valtteri Bottas was the latest one to be traded by the Silver Arrows, for younger talent. The always second in line at the previous team finally became a leader at his new one, Alfa Romeo. The Finn signed a multiyear contract with the Swiss team. Now comfortable at his new home and assuming the role which Hamilton had at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas states the non-obvious in defiance.

There is no aging like fine wine when it comes to being at the apex of motor sporting. As you cross the three-decade mark of your lifetime, the clock starts ticking backward and only the best of the best can survive that test of time. With only 3 drivers aged above 35 in the 2023 grid, the ones inching toward the mark are constantly questioned about what they can bring to the table. But Bottas believes he still has a lot of fight left in him.

Bottas told Reuters at the team’s livery launch event, “Actually, I always feel like from every season I learn something new and that way you become more experienced and better. I still have many years in me, no doubt. I’m enjoying the racing, enjoying everything involved in F1, so I have many, many years ahead of me, so let’s see what happens.”

Declaring that he still has many years ahead of him, he also hinted at the different and more relaxed atmosphere at his new motoring home.

The happy man Valtteri Bottas looks forward to fighting for race wins

Being in a top team may look rosy to onlookers, but the pressure that puts on its drivers is mountain-sized. Having seen both sides of the Formula 1 circus, Bottas says he is happy right now. Assuming the responsibility to sculpt the team and his teammate, his goal with Alfa Romeo still remains to be able to fight for the race wins, but the journey doesn’t have the element of stress anymore.

He said, “If I look at everything overall in terms of life quality and happiness, I would say I am stressing less about certain things and there’s less outside pressure at the moment.” 

He added, “Of course, it was nice to be able to fight for race wins, but that’s what we are working towards with this team now, so I’m very, very happy.”

What do you think Valtteri Bottas can pull out of his hat for the upcoming season?