Valtteri Bottas has come to accept that he was beaten at Mercedes by someone who was better than him, namely "living legend" Lewis Hamilton.
Bottas raced for five seasons along the seven-time F1 world champion, a period during which he collected all ten of his career wins n Formula 1.
On his day, the Finn was a match for Hamilton, but the Briton's unwavering consistency race after race, year end and year out made him a formidable force to be reckoned with and ultimately an unassailable rival.
In hindsight, Bottas feels privileged to have been able to race alongside Grand Prix racing's most successful driver in its history. And he left Mercedes at the end of last year with the satisfaction of having given it his best shot.
"I had a great five years with Lewis as his team-mate and now actually thinking about it, it was an honour," said Alfa Romeo F1's new recruit, quoted by The Race.
"Like, he’s a living legend! And he’s a great guy and great driver – really fast. He definitely made me work hard to try and beat him.
"Sometimes I could, but on a season average I couldn’t. So that’s how it goes. You always meet, eventually, someone who’s better than you and you need to accept it.
"And I’m fine with it. I’m happy that sometimes when I was at my best I could beat him.
"But we came a long way. We achieved so much together, so many 1-2 results, five Constructors’ Championships together.
"I learned from him about life and about racing, and maybe vice versa as well. So it was a really good time with him."
Bottas has opened a new chapter in his F1 career, one that likely won't see him dicing with his former Mercedes teammate anytime soon.
But the Finn believes that Hamilton will kick off his 2022 campaign next month in Bahrain with the bit between his teeth, fired up and energized by his unfair defeat last December in Abu Dhabi.
"After everything that happened at the end of last year, you’ll see," warned Bottas. "He will be pretty strong and he will have the fire inside him, so beware!"
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