Bottas no longer has to 'try to be something else' at Alfa Romeo

Valtteri Bottas drove mostly in the shadow of Lewis Hamilton in his time as a Mercedes driver. In addition, the Finn had to endure a lot in terms of team orders, something he accepted as the second man on the team. At Alfa Romeo, he thinks he has found a better version of himself and that he no longer needs to try to be 'something else' than he is.

Bottas himself feels that he can still do a lot to become a better driver and that he has a lot more to give to the sport. In addition, he thinks he can be more himself at Alfa Romeo than in his time at Mercedes. "It feels like now I can be the best version of myself, instead of trying to be something else," he says in the press conference following Alfa Romeo's car launch.

Bottas feels at home at Alfa Romeo

It is widely assumed that Bottas will take on a leadership role at Alfa Romeo, but he himself does not see it that way. "I don't see myself as the only leader of the team, we’re in this together," continues the Finn. He does acknowledge that he can steer the development in certain areas because of his long experience as a Formula One driver.

However, he stresses that it is a team effort. "We’re in this together, with Guanyu [Zhou] and also with Robert [Kubica] and the whole team," he states. He adds that he feels at home within the team, where he says there is a nice atmosphere. "I am more than happy to be here and I want to thank the team again for this opportunity," Bottas ends.