Lewis Hamilton issues reaction as former teammate Valtteri Bottas loses Sauber seat

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Valtteri Bottas’ Formula 1 career could be over after Sauber released him to sign Gabriel Bortoleto. The team confirmed on Wednesday morning that they wouldn’t renew Bottas’ contract.

The Finnish driver had been hopeful of signing an extension and always seemed more likely to stay than teammate Zhou Guanyu following the team’s April move for Nico Hulkenberg. But in the end, they’ve opted for a youthful presence in F2 championship leader Bortoleto.

With no realistic prospect of racing for Red Bull or their junior team RB, Bottas won’t be on the grid next year. He’s competed in every F1 season since 2013.

Bottas is in talks with Mercedes over returning as reserve driver. That will keep him active within the sport in case any opportunities present themselves further down the line.

The likes of Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, Esteban Ocon and Alex Albon have all returned to the sport after a year or more away. But given that he’s 35, this may be seen as Bottas’ de facto retirement.

The best years of his career unquestionably came alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. During that period, he won 10 Grands Prix and scored well over 50 podiums, helping the team reach eight consecutive constructors’ titles by 2021.

Lewis Hamilton sends Valtteri Bottas just one emoji after he loses Sauber seat to Gabriel Bortoleto

A few hours after Sauber’s announcement, Bottas took to Instagram to issue a statement. As is customary when a driver leaves a team, he offered thanks and maintained his optimism.

“After three years at @stakef1team we decided to part ways,” he wrote. “I want to take this opportunity to thank each & everyone in the team, everyone I’ve worked with, and especially you guys out there for the support then, now and in the future. Looking forward for what’s to come!”

Hamilton didn’t send any words in his reply, instead simply sending the embrace emoji. He’s remained close with Bottas since his exit.

There was a great deal of mutual respect between the two, with Bottas beating Hamilton on occasion but unable to challenge him over a full season. He always dutifully obeyed team orders, which made him the ideal number two.

Indeed, Zhou called him the ‘best teammate ever’ in his own comment. He ‘loved every single moment’ they had together at Hinwil.

The moment Valtteri Bottas realised he couldn’t beat Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes

After leaving Mercedes, Bottas returned to the midfield with Sauber, who were known as Alfa Romeo when he arrived. While he hasn’t scored any points this year in F1’s slowest car, he delivered 59 in his first two seasons.

According to former strategist Ruth Buscombe, Bottas sent a profound message to Sauber in his first-ever race briefing. He urged them not to ‘set a limit on what you can achieve’.

He embraced his team leader role alongside Zhou, even if it was quite a comedown from battling for victories at Mercedes. Hamilton wasn’t ‘happy’ that Toto Wolff axed Bottas in favour of George Russell, according to Peter Windsor.

Russell has proven far more difficult for the Englishman to defeat. Still, it was only at the end of this five-year stay that Bottas realised he couldn’t beat Hamilton.