Bottas has come to terms with Hamilton supremacy

©Mercedes

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."

Read also: Bottas aiming to be 'best version of myself' at Alfa

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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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.