Bottas
The title fight in Formula 1 comes to a head. That is why Valtteri Bottas has to drive for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton from now on.
In Zandvoort, the Finn, who has to leave Mercedes at the end of the season, made it clear what he thought of the “Silver Arrow” stable order. After a pit stop, which Bottas only had to complete to enable Hamilton to change tires, the 32-year-old burned the fastest lap on the Dutch asphalt. And that despite the fact that his race engineer told him: “We're not going for the fastest lap.”
After two absolutely fastest sector times, chief strategist James Vowles intervened, Bottas whistled back. He took off the gas, but not enough, but still drove the fastest lap. In the last race lap, Hamilton had to give everything again to secure the important additional point in the championship fight.
In Sochi, Bottas now wants to fully serve the 36-year-old Briton, as the Finn revealed before the start of the Grand Prix weekend. For Hamilton, one of his favorite routes is about his 100th career win. On the fast street circuit, Mercedes is in any case the favorite because of the engine power.
As early as 2018, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff had whistled back the Finn, who will drive for Alfa Romeo in the coming season, and “bought” the Hamilton victory with a stable order. “If the situation arises and the team asks me again, I'll let Lewis pass immediately,” said Bottas this time as a team player. “We want to win both titles again,” added the Finn.
