Valtteri Bottas has signed a multi-year contract with Alfa Romeo and will join the team from the 2022 Formula 1 season.
The Finn, who has been on the grid since joining Williams in 2013, will replace compatriot Kimi Raikkonen after the 41-year-old announced last week that he will be retiring at the end of this year.
Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal of Alfa Romeo, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Valtteri to the team and we are looking forward to our journey together.
“Valtteri has been an integral part of a team that rewrote history books and he has four constructors’ world titles to his name: he is the right driver to help Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN make a step forward toward the front of the grid.”
Bottas, who has nine wins and 63 podiums from his 8 seasons in the sport, added: “I’m excited to join Alfa Romeo Racing ORLEN for 2022 and beyond for what is going to be a new challenge with an iconic manufacturer.
“I am relishing the opportunity to help lead the team forward up the grid, especially with the new regulations in 2022 giving the team a chance to make a leap in performance.
“I’m grateful for the trust the team has put in me and I cannot wait to repay their faith: I’m as hungry as ever to race for results and, when the time comes, for wins.”
The move brings to an end Bottas’ partnership with Mercedes, the team he has driven for since replacing Nico Rosberg at the start of the 2017 season.
That paves the way for current Williams and Mercedes junior driver George Russell to join the team.
The worst kept secret in F1, it has become clear since the summer break that Russell would be replacing Bottas for next season.
Seemingly a faster driver than the Finn, Russell should provide sterner competition to 7-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.
The move should nonetheless also be good for Bottas: in a team dominated by Hamilton, he has often had to follow team orders. Even at Sunday’s Dutch Grand Prix, for example, he was told by his Mercedes crew not to go for the point for fastest lap since it was held by his teammate.
Bottas is the first of two drivers to be confirmed by Alfa Romeo for 2022.
Several drivers are competing for the second seat, including current driver Antonio Giovinazzi, test and reserve driver Callum Ilott, and Red Bull reserve driver Alex Albon.
I would like to thank @MercedesAMGF1 for the 5 years together. We have achieved quite some things, that I will never forget. And hey, we have still this season to Win! Let’s get it 💪https://t.co/2LOhwh1teb#VB77 @F1 pic.twitter.com/iMJljyTNNc
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) September 6, 2021
Featured image by Jake Archibald from London, England – Valtteri Bottas, CC BY 2.0; no changes made.
