Hamilton’s Praise for Bottas as Sauber Parts Ways with Finnish Dr

Hamilton’s Praise for Bottas as Sauber Parts Ways with Finnish Driver

Valtteri Bottas, whom Lewis Hamilton once described as his “best team-mate,” is facing a new chapter in his career after Sauber (also known as Kick Sauber) announced he would not continue with the team for the 2025 season. The decision comes after a challenging season in which neither Bottas nor his current team-mate, Zhou Guanyu, managed to score a point across 21 race weekends.

Bottas and Zhou to Make Way for New Talent

The announcement from Sauber stated that Bottas, 35, and Zhou, 25, will be replaced by Formula 2 championship leader Gabriel Bortoleto, who joins on a multi-year deal, alongside experienced driver Nico Hulkenberg. The duo struggled with a lack of performance from the team’s car throughout the 2024 season, marking a difficult period for both drivers. Bottas and Zhou have raced together for three years, forming a partnership that Sauber hoped would be competitive. However, the results didn’t meet expectations, prompting the team to look in a new direction.

A Potential Return to Mercedes

Amidst this change, Bottas is reportedly exploring the possibility of returning to Mercedes, where he previously achieved notable success as Hamilton’s team-mate. Between 2017 and 2021, Bottas won 10 Grands Prix and twice finished as runner-up to Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship, all while helping Mercedes secure five consecutive Constructors’ Championships. Sources suggest that Bottas may be considered for a reserve driver role at Mercedes in 2025, as the team prepares to welcome new talent with George Russell and promising young driver Kimi Antonelli as their primary lineup.

Hamilton’s High Regard for Bottas

Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, has always spoken warmly of Bottas, praising both his driving ability and personal qualities. When Bottas left Mercedes, Hamilton expressed admiration for his resilience, speed, and character, calling him “the best team-mate I’ve had the pleasure of working with.” Bottas’ supportive and professional approach during their time together left a lasting impression on Hamilton, who emphasized that his former team-mate’s strengths extended beyond the track.

In a 2023 interview, Hamilton elaborated on the complexities of having a team-mate in Formula 1, where drivers must balance their individual goals with the team’s success. “Valtteri was just such a great team-mate and colleague,” he noted. “When I talk about team-mate, I think, not enough people really think about it, but there is a conflict of interest here in our sport. We’ve got two championships—a team championship, which we are hired to do, and a drivers’ championship. So, our job is to score the most points individually or collectively for the team, but ultimately you want to beat your team-mate, so there is always this internal rivalry.”

What Lies Ahead for Bottas?

If Bottas does secure a return to Mercedes as a reserve driver, he would bring invaluable experience and familiarity with the team. His former role in helping Mercedes achieve their championship-winning runs highlights his ability to work cohesively with a high-performing team, a skill that Hamilton has openly respected.