Valtteri Bottas felt angry and frustrated while being outraced by Lewis Hamilton, says former F1 driver

Karun Chandhok insists that Valtteri Bottas must've felt the pressure after being outperformed by Lewis Hamilton.

Valtteri Bottas felt angry and frustrated while being outraced by Lewis Hamilton, says former F1 driver

Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton on the Russian GP podium in 2018 (Image via The Sun)

Valtteri Bottas had a five-season-long stint with Mercedes in Formula 1. The Finnish driver was signed by the Silver Arrows in 2017 as a last-minute replacement for the retired Nico Rosberg. During his time at Brackley, Bottas gained the reputation of a wingman to teammate Lewis Hamilton. Former F1 driver Karun Chandhok believes this angered the 33-year-old.

Valtteri was given the task to match a multiple-time world champion as his teammate from the get-go. The Finnish driver failed to be a challenge to Hamilton as he kept falling behind the British driver. The former F1 driver is convinced that this caused the 33-year-old to get frustrated. Karun Chandhok said, “He just got more and more angry and frustrated and bitter about it.”

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The F1 presenter compared Bottas to the likes of Eddie Irvine and David Coulthard. Both of whom were teammates with two of the greatest F1 drivers in history, Michael Schumacher and Mika Hakkinen. As is the case with Valtteri, Eddie and David also had no answer to the staggering talent of their teammates. Chandhok insists that the Finnish driver must’ve believed he would have had the upper hand with Hamilton. However, that was not the case.

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Karun mentions that staying as a second driver at a top team can reap benefits such as race wins and of course a massive contract. However, the former Indian driver highlighted a big disadvantage in this regard. He said, “The downside is you’re always compared to the genius in the other car.”

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Valtteri Bottas feels rejuvenated at Alfa Romeo

Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa Romeo garage (Image via PlanetF1)
Valtteri Bottas in the Alfa Romeo garage (Image via PlanetF1)

Bottas switched to the Sauber-run Alfa Romeo F1 team in 2022 alongside rookie teammate Zhou Guanyu. He took the role of a team leader as Alfa Romeo wanted to rebuild. Subsequently, Valtteri finally got some fresh air without having to deal with the immense pressure of a top team. The Finnish driver is confident in proving his worth to the team before it becomes an Audi works team in 2026.

The Alfa Romeo driver became a fan favorite since joining the Swiss team as the 33-year-old had a huge confidence boost. Valtteri Bottas won over fans with his mullet and new Australian-inspired looks. As such, it is clear that the Finnish driver is finally in a comfortable place in his career, something that he lacked during his time in Brackley.

Thus, Valtteri Bottas could’ve felt bitterness after being defeated by Lewis Hamilton for five years at Mercedes. However, the 33-year-old is now on a new journey far from the environment at Brackley. The Finnish driver has regained his confidence and hopes to stay with Sauber when the lucrative Audi investments come into effect.

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