Why Bottas’ Plight Alongside Hamilton Reminds Hakkinen of His McLaren F1 Days With Senna

In Formula One, your teammate is your biggest rival, on one hand, it can be a gift for the team, but for a teammate, it can be a curse. Valtteri Bottas finds himself in a similar situation as he hasn’t been able to win a world champion due to the dominance of Lewis Hamilton.

However, in these tough times for the Finn, his fellow countryman, Mika Hakkinen, understands what Bottas is going through. As Hakkinen himself found himself driving alongside Ayrton Senna who was regarded as one of the best.

Hakkinen understands Bottas’s situation at Mercedes

The Finn formed a partnership with Senna during his McLaren days. Hakkinen knew how good the Brazilian driver was behind the wheel, and therefore can relate to Valtteri‘s situation when he has to race Hamilton.

The former world champion said, “I know what it is like to go up against the best driver of a generation – in my case, Ayrton Senna – and to have worked with very strong team-mates throughout my career. From Johnny Herbert to Martin Brundle, Mark Blundell to Nigel Mansell and, of course, David Coulthard.”

Formula One F1 – Steiermark Grand Prix – Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Styria, Austria – June 27, 2021 Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with Valtteri Bottas after finishing second and third respectively REUTERS/Darko Vojinovic

“When McLaren put me in their car alongside Ayrton Senna, it was a fantastic opportunity, but a massive challenge. Suddenly it was my experience versus Ayrton’s experience.”And what is ‘experience’?”

Is it the number of laps you have done, or your ability to study the data, or how clever and intelligent you are about what’s going on within the team?,” Hakkinen concluded.

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Will Bottas find himself driving alongside Lewis next season?

It’s long been rumored that Bottas’s days at Silver Arrows are numbered and is likely to be replaced by George Russell from Williams. Furthermore, the Finn is in his last year of contract with the Brackley-based squad which further speculates his departure from the team.

Since joining back in 2017, the number 77 driver has helped Mercedes pick four constructor’s championships. And is looking forward to adding another to their tally this season.

Formula One F1 – Spanish Grand Prix – Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain – May 8, 2021 Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas during the press conference after qualifying in third position FIA/Handout via REUTERS

However, if Bottas and Mercedes do part ways, he would be regarded as underrated and should have picked up a driver’s championship, if not for the dominance of Hamilton.

Nevertheless, the Finn is looking forward to the Hungarian Grand Prix this weekend. He is hoping to pick up some crucial points which help his team regain the lead in the constructor’s championship.

Read More: Valtteri Bottas Supports ‘Hero’ Road Cyclist Girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell at 2020 Tokyo Olympics

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