George Russell and his potential move to Mercedes next season is a topic of speculation for months now. The young Brit has been immensely impressive for the Wantage-based team and is heavily rumored to replace Valtteri Bottas at Silver Arrows to team up with Lewis Hamilton.

Meanwhile, the 2019 and 2020 driver’s championship runner-up, Valtteri Bottas claims the reigning champion, Lewis Hamilton, would love to have the Finnish driver as his teammate for next season.

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What did Valtteri Bottas say?

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, Valtteri 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.”

In addition, Valtteri Bottas, who has always signed one-year contracts since his arrival at Mercedes in 2017, claims he is used to the annual uncertainty about his next contract.

“Every year is the same story. You just have to learn to live with it. In this business, your skin thickens all by itself,” said Bottas.

“At the moment it’s not clear what is going to happen and I don’t think there’s any news ahead for at least the next couple of weeks. Let’s see.”

No point in discussing rumors: Bottas

With Valtteri Bottas’s future unsecured for next season, the Finnish driver’s future is heavily speculated with a move away from the Silver Arrows. And according to the driver’s market, Alfa Romeo, Williams, and Aston Martin are leading the race for his signature.

“There’s nothing new – or at least nothing I can report. The situation is becoming clearer and clearer, but I cannot talk about it. Everything is fine, and I’m quite happy with the direction in which it is developing,” said the Finn.

“But there’s no point discussing rumors right now. I can’t say who we’re going to talk to and what’s going on, but things are being discussed so that we can find the best option for next season.”

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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.