Bottas “not too worried” over Alfa Romeo’s form ahead of F1 switch

The Finn will make the switch to Alfa Romeo for 2022 after losing his seat at Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton to current Williams driver George Russell. 

Alfa Romeo sits ninth in the constructors’ championship having scored just seven points. The Swiss-based outfit has found points hard to come by this year and has only finished inside the top 10 on four occasions. 

Considering its form so far, its hopes of overhauling Williams into eighth appear slim given it is 16 points behind with just seven races remaining. 

But Bottas says he is ready to embrace the challenge of stepping back into F1’s midfield and is confident his new team can capitalise on the 2022 regulation overhaul. 

“I know that they haven’t really developed this year’s car and they haven’t really progressed this year,” Bottas said. 

“But I know the efforts they’re putting in for the future so I’m not too worried, it’s not going to improve suddenly this season, for them. That’s a fact. 

“But next year is different cars and everything. So I’m obviously more hopeful than what the results are now.” 

In the meantime, Bottas, who sits third in the championship, is eager to add to his tally of nine victories before his stint at Mercedes comes to an end after going more than a year since his last win. 

Bottas is also determined to help Mercedes claim a fifth consecutive constructors’ championship since he joined the team in 2017, as well as aiding Hamilton’s quest to beat Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the drivers’ crown. 

“I want to win,” he explained. “I want to win and also I really want us to get the fifth constructors title and obviously, if it’s not me winning the championship, I want that to be Lewis. 

“For me, individual race results - that is still the big motivation for me.”