F1 | Bottas feels “very motivated” ahead of his first season with Alfa Romeo, received advice about the team from Räikkönen
Of expectations, responsibilities, Kimi’s advices and Sprint races: Valtteri Bottas’ thoughts on the season that’s about to begin.
After five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes Valtteri Bottas is ready to make his debut with a new team. In 2022 he will be pairing with rookie Guanyu Zhou to drive Alfa Romeo’s C42.
“The most important thing for us is to improve, take a step forward compared to last season as a team and improve throughout all the 2022 season,” he told Gazzetta during an event for Alfa’s new C-SUV in La Thuile.
“We’ll have to work well as a team, without imposing ourselves any limit on what we can achieve: never say never. I’m personally very motivated: as we’ve seen in the last few seasons this team has potential.”
This will be the first time as a first driver for Bottas, since his debut back in 2013 with Williams and he is looking forward to a bit more – two years - stability after Mercedes’ one-year contract extensions.
“For the first time in my carrier I have a long term contract and for me it’s the first time being the most experienced driver of the team. I’m starting my 10th season in F1, I’ve gained a lot of experience, it’s good to know goals and results aren’t always short term.”
“Driving for an iconic Italian team is an honour, I feel responsibility to bring this brand back to the top, but I don’t think feel the pressure, I actually feel very motivated,” he remarked.
At Alfa he is filling in Kimi Raikkonen’s seat, after the world champion retired last season at the end of an incredible 20 years in Formula 1. And it seems that the Finn had – no more than a few – words of advice for Bottas.
“I spoke to Kimi Raikkonen at the end of last year, he explained me some stuff about working with this team. He spoke well of Alfa Romeo, their potential, he said I will have fun. But as you know Kimi is a man of few words.”
Just before the start of winter testing in Barcelona, F1 has confirmed three Sprint events will be held in 2022: Imola in April, Austria in July and Interlagos in November. A number that is just enough, Bottas believes.
“I think the Sprint race is interesting,” he commented. “Three times a year is ok, but not more. This way it adds excitement to the racing weekends.”
It’s other races, however, that the Alfa Romeo driver is looking forward.
“The first one [the Bahrain GP] to see where we stand as a team. I also can’t wait to go back to Japan and Australia, after two years and I think it’ll be a good debut at the new circuit in Miami.”
