P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Valtteri Bottas has spoken about how Mercedes has changed since Lewis Hamilton’s exit
Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas noted the change at Mercedes following Lewis Hamilton’s departure, describing the team as “a bit more chilled.” Hamilton made a surprising decision to leave Mercedes after 12 successful years and joined Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season, potentially his final career move. Despite their successful partnership, Bottas is now adjusting to the absence of Hamilton as Kimi Antonelli and George Russell take on new roles at Mercedes. Bottas, currently Mercedes’ test and reserve driver, remains optimistic about a potential return to the grid in 2026, with options at teams like Cadillac, Alpine, and Red Bull. The Finn faces competition for a seat from drivers like Sergio Perez, Zhou Guanyu, and potentially Mick Schumacher, as new opportunities emerge in the evolving F1 landscape.
