What Bottas learned from five years as Hamilton's F1 teammate

Bottas spent five seasons alongside Hamilton with the pair winning five consecutive constructors’ championships from 2017 to 2021.

Hamilton won the drivers’ title on four occasions, only losing out in 2021 to Max Verstappen in the final race.

The Finn failed to muster a credible title charge, falling short in 2019 and 2020 when he finished runner-up to Hamilton by some distance. 

Bottas will start a new chapter in his F1 career this season as he makes his debut for Alfa Romeo, while George Russell got the call up from Williams to Mercedes.

Reflecting on his time alongside Hamilton, Bottas was impressed with how the seven-time champion is still able to improve despite his wealth of experience and time in the sport.

“With Lewis what has been really impressive is that every year he’s still able to develop as a driver,” Bottas said ahead of the 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

“He’s got such a big experience of F1 but still he’s been able to learn more and for sure I’ve developed myself as a driver, but so has Lewis. It doesn’t come automatically, he works for it because he knows the competition is getting tougher and tougher. 

“I’ve definitely learned many things from him during these five years, driving wise, set-up wise, lots of small things here and there. It’s been impressive to see him still develop and not get too comfortable. 

“He always wants more out of himself and the team around him. It’s been the same thing every year, he keeps getting better.”

Bottas will get his first taste of 2022 F1 machinery when pre-season testing gets underway on February 23 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.