Valterri Bottas Joins Mercedes AMG Petronas
Giancarlo Perlas January 16, 2017
Mercedes AMG Petronas revealed that Valtteri Bottas will be taking the vacancy left by Nico Rosberg in the team. He will be partnered with Lewis Hamilton in the 2017 season of Formula One.
According to Mercedes, Bottas is the 11th driver to compete in F1 with the Silver Arrows car. The new drivers’ lineup of the team was announced 45 days after Rosberg dropped the bombshell about his retirement.
Bottas had been a strong candidate to replace Rosberg together with Fernando Alonso and Pascal Wehrlein. After talks with Alonso failed to yield favorable results for Mercedes, Bottas was reported to have visited the factory of the team just before Christmas. The said event fueled speculations that he will be leaving Williams to go to Mercedes. Previously, Claire Williams hinted of his jump to the constructors champion’s banner as well.
A Quick Look at the F1 Career of Valtteri Bottas
Bottas is 27 years of age. He is a native of Nastola, Finnland. He has four years of experience competing in F1 under the Williams Racing team. So far, he has a total of 77 starts and nine career podiums in his portfolio.
With his addition in the Mercedes F1 team, his future in the sport definitely looks great. We might see him winning races soon, and he might even get a chance to win the World Championship.
Other Changes Announced By Mercedes F1
Mercedes also stated that Felipe Massa will be coming out from his retirement to fill in the seat of Bottas in Williams. Pascal Wehrlein will be making a jump from Manor Racing to Sauber too. Meanwhile, the 2016 world champion Rosberg just accepted an ambassadorial role with Mercedes F1 for this year.
