Mercedes know how to give farewells; just ask Valtteri Bottas. The Finnish driver, who is now officially with Alfa Romeo, announced earlier in 2021 to be moving to the Italian team, marking an end to his time at Mercedes after five years.

Five years, in which both Bottas and Mercedes never truly hit the mark consistently and never truly got on each other’s wavelengths. There’s nothing wrong or new about that in Formula 1. But it’s unfortunate, regardless.

Anyway, that was all in the past. And when the time came to say goodbye, Mercedes made sure that they said so in a way that must’ve pulled on Bottas’ emotional strings.

Apart from a full day at their offices where the entire team greeted and met the departing Finn, Mercedes also posted a video in which all the key members of their team say one thing that covers everything – ‘Kiitos Valtteri.’

The word ‘Kiitos’ is Finnish for ‘Thanks’ or ‘Thank you’ and in this case, it means ‘Thank you Valtteri.’

The Alfa Romeo driver must be delighted and emotional to see just how loved and appreciated he was at his former team. This is because, for most of the time, there was a narrative of Mercedes not ‘liking’ Bottas, something absolutely fabricated and imaginary.

But this video from Mercedes means that narrative can now be buried, once and for all.

Valtteri Bottas’ last day at Mercedes was emotional

In one of the other videos posted by Mercedes, team principal Toto Wolff and Valtteri Bottas sit down and reflect on his Mercedes career, on his last visit to their office.

Bottas said, “It’s my last day at the Mercedes factory and it has been emotional.”

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“It has been nice to see all of the people and I have really felt proud and privileged to be able to be with the team for the five years and in all of those years getting the constructors’ title.”

At one point during the video, Wolff said something which crystallizes the association of Valtteri Bottas and Mercedes, and everything from the beginning to the end.

Wolff said – “You are so much better than you think.”

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