Valtteri Bottas has signed a multi-year deal with Alfa Romeo Racing starting next season, the Formula One team announced on Monday, paving the way for George Russell to join Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes.
“A new chapter in my racing career is opening: I’m excited to join Alfa Romeo Racing for 2022 and beyond for what is going to be a new challenge with an iconic manufacturer,” Bottas said in a statement.
Bottas, 32, has spent the past five seasons alongside seven-time world champion Hamilton at Mercedes, having replaced Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning the 2016 title.
Photo: AFP
The Finn has won nine Grands Prix and claimed 17 pole positions in 92 starts with the team, but has not been able to challenge Hamilton consistently.
Bottas finished second in the world championship the past two seasons, but is a distant third this year.
His last win came at the Russian Grand Prix in September last year.
“I am proud of what I have achieved [at Mercedes], and I am fully focused on finishing the job as we fight for another world championship, but I am also looking forward to the new challenges that await me next year,” Bottas said.
Bottas is effectively replacing compatriot Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo. The 2007 world champion is retiring at the end of the campaign.
“The potential of the setup is clear and I am relishing the opportunity to help lead the team forward up the grid,” Bottas said. “Especially with the new regulations in 2022 giving the team a chance to make a leap in performance.”
Alfa Romeo have picked up just three points in 13 races this season and are ninth in the constructors’ championship.
Hamilton paid a warm tribute to his departing teammate.
“I’m immensely proud to have worked alongside Valtteri for the last five years,” Hamilton wrote on social media. “He has been the best team-mate I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Your speed and resilience has been impressive but where you truly stand out to me is the human being you are and gentleman.”
Mercedes are expected to announce the arrival of Russell from Williams in the coming days.
Russell, 23, has spent three seasons at Williams, and impressed in a one-off appearance for Mercedes at last year’s Sakhir Grand Prix as a stand-in for Hamilton after he tested positive for COVID-19.
Badminton world No. 3 Anders Antonsen clinched his first Indonesia Open title yesterday after beating Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen, while South Korea’s An Se-young won her second championship in Jakarta. The 28-year-old Dane sank world No. 7 Chou at the Indonesian capital’s Istora Senayan arena, winning 22-20, 21-14 in a 60-minute match to secure the prestigious Super 1000 event. Antonsen came out on top in a tightly contested first game before cruising to victory in the second. In a more closely fought women’s singles final, South Korean ace and world No. 1 An fought back from one game down to beat China’s
Spain starlets Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams dazzled on Thursday as La Roja beat France 5-4 in a thriller in Stuttgart, Germany, to set up a UEFA Nations League final with Portugal. Yamal bagged a brace, while Williams scored and provided an assist as the two wingers cut France’s makeshift defense to ribbons. Mikel Merino and Pedri were also on the score sheet for the UEFA Euro 2024 champions. Kylian Mbappe netted a second-half penalty, but Spain were 5-1 up and cruising, before Les Bleus suddenly woke up as their opponents took their foot off the pedal. France’s three late goals — a
Italy crashed to a 3-0 loss away to Norway, as the four-time FIFA World Cup champions made a disastrous start to their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Friday, while Belgium had to settle for a draw in North Macedonia. Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland all scored in the first half in pouring rain in Oslo as Norway made it a night to forget for Italy, who missed out on the past two World Cups. “I have no explanation. Our supporters don’t deserve this kind of match. We need to do some soul-searching. It’s unacceptable,” Italy captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi
The Crusaders yesterday produced a clinical performance in difficult conditions to beat the Queensland Reds 32-12 and claim home advantage in next week’s Super Rugby semi-finals. Lock Scott Barrett and prop Tamaiti Williams scored first-half tries to reward an outstanding performance from the Crusaders’ forwards in wet, slippery conditions and bitterly cold temperatures. Scrumhalf Noah Hotham defied the conditions in the second half to score a superb solo try and, after kicking a conversion and penalty to make the score 22-0 at the hour mark, flyhalf Rivez Reihana scored a try which took the game beyond the Reds. “Typical Christchurch weather, cold, wet
RSS