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Being Hamilton’s Teammate is Not ‘Child’s Play’: Ex-F1 Champion Slams Criticism of Bottas

Published 08/24/2021, 6:54 AM EDT

After a series of unconvincing performances, Valtteri Bottas has been under fire at Mercedes. In addition, the Finnish driver is heavily rumored to move away from Silver Arrows, with George Russell being considered as the frontrunner to replace him.

Meanwhile, the two-time world champion, Mika Hakkinen, understands that his fellow compatriot Valtteri Bottas has been criticized far too much at Mercedes. In addition, the Flying Finn believes Silver Arrows should retain Bottas for next season.

Watch Story: Toto Wolff Swears, Valtteri Bottas Bares: Funniest Moments From Drive to Survive

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What did Mika Hakkinen say?

“He is being criticized far too much – far too much. Driving alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton is not child’s play. Being talented and fast is not enough. The experience these people have is incredible. You don’t learn that on the Internet or from books,” said Mika Hakkinen in an interview with RTL.

Furthermore, Mika Hakkinen believes the Brackley-based team are satisfied with their number two driver.

“Within the team, I’m sure they say: Valtteri: You are a fantastic racing driver,” said the two-time world champion. There is an old saying, according to Hakkinen: “If you have a clock that is running, don’t open it and try to make it better. Just let it run.” (Quotes translated via Google)

In other words: Mercedes should extend Valtteri Bottas’s contract and employ him as Lewis Hamilton wingman in 2022.

Hamilton wants me to stay at Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas

Valtteri Bottas, who has been the teammate of Lewis Hamilton since 2017, believes the Briton would love to have him as his teammate for the next season.

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As quoted by the GrandPX.news, when asked if the seven-time world champion, Lewis Hamilton wants him to be his teammate for next season, Bottas replied: “Yes, Lewis has told me directly that he would like me to be his teammate.”

“Together we can do very well, but it’s a fact that the drivers don’t have a huge impact on these decisions. There’s a bigger machine behind it that ultimately makes those decisions.”

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Valtteri Bottas Reveals Odd Secret That Helped Him ‘Grow Magically’ and Begin His F1 Career

Can we witness Valtteri Bottas teaming up with Lewis Hamilton for the 2022 season? What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Pingaksh Sharma is an F1 author at EssentiallySports. He has been following this sport since India hosted the Grand Prix in 2012 and has been an ardent supporter of the eventual race winner, Sebastian Vettel. He is also a fan of Max Verstappen and Red Bull and hopes the former breaks the Lewis Hamilton dominance.

Being Hamilton’s Teammate is Not ‘Child’s Play’: Ex-F1 Champion Slams Criticism of Bottas

What did Mika Hakkinen say?

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Hamilton wants me to stay at Mercedes: Valtteri Bottas