Valtteri Bottas animosity theory dismissed amid new Mercedes garage dynamic
“This is about staying in the ci✅rcle and waiting to see what else opens up."

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Valtteri Bottas and 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell will not revisit their brief rivalry as they join forces at Mercedes, it has been claimed.
Bottas was put under severe pressure by Russell for his Mercedes seat in 2020 and 2021, and they collided at the F1 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix d🐼uriꦛng that period.
Russell eventually would replace Bottas, 🐻alongside Lewis H🙈amilton, at Mercedes. But Bottas is now returning as a reserve driver, backing up Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
“Not at all, it’s all in the past,” Connor McDonagh told the Crash F1 podcast about the Bottas ♔v Russell history.
“Russ🅘ell wanted Valtteri’s seat, and obviously Valtteri wanted to keep it.
“Valtteri is one of the nicest and easiest drivers to work ꧋with. Toto has already outlined that his role is to mentor Antonelli, as wel♔l.
“Having Bottas o🍨n the sidelines? He’s a great personality to havꦓe in the team.
“In terms of pace,♑ he should still be on the grid. He is a great asset.
“Russell will be the team leader, he’s the main man ꦐnow.
“Anything like that is in the past.”
Valtteri Bottas 'opportunity' to return to F1 in 2026
Lewis Lar𒅌kam adཧded: ““I don’t think there will be any issues.
“It was four years, it was completely different. Mercedes were in a fi🍃erce title fight with Red Bull, Lewis Hamilton v Max Verstappen. Bottas was seen as a key figure to help Mercedes and Hamilton win those titles.
“Russell was, at the time, the up-and-coming superstar trying to impress and earn tha♔t seat, which he ultimately did.
“We’re in a different situation now. Bottas sees this as an opportunity🌳 to prove his worth - I agree he’s unlucky to miss out on a [race seat].
“This is an opportunity to 𒀰stayꦐ involved in the sport with an eye on a seat for 2026.
“I don’t think - even in Bottas’ wildest dreams - he’s expecting that to come aꦑt Mercedes.
“This is about staying in the circle and wa✨itin▨g to see what else opens up.
“With Cadillac coming i𝔍n 2026, there is a clear𓂃 opportunity there. There will be two more seats opening up.
“He and Sergio Perez are obvious candidates for a new tea🧜m who want an experienced driver.”

James w꧙as a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from A🌌merican sports, to football, to F1.