Valtteri Bottas has highlighted the notable difference at Mercedes since 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Lewis Hamilton’s exit, describing the F1 team as “a bit more chilled”.

Hamilton shocked the spoღrting world by calling time on his Mercedes career.

The seven-time world champion decided t♔o join Ferrari for the 2025 F1 season, which is likely his final career move before rꦓetiring.

Ham🦹ilton spent 12 years at Mercedes, winning six of his seven titles with them.

During✱ this time, Bottas was Hamilton’s teammate for five ⛎seasons.

The Hamilton-Bottas combin💧ation remained unbeaten in the F1 constructors’ standings between 2017 and 2021 despite threats from Ferrari and Red Bull at various points.

Mercedes opted to promote 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Kimi Antonelli from their academy as Hamilton’s replacement, while 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:George Russell has stepped up as team leader.

Bottas, who returned to Mercedes as their test and reserve driver after failing to land 𒊎the Sauber drive for this year, identified what has stayed the same and what has changed since coming back.

“Yes and no. In the end, the spirit is still the same,” he said on the Beyond the G🌳rid po🧔dcast.

“The winning mentality is still there; 𝓀everyone is still working as hard as they can, trying to solve issues and get bette🦹r. That hasn’t changed at all.

“Otherwise, losing a big figure such as Lewis, I think, has made some kind of difference. It’s hard to describe t🎃he feeling, but I think there has been some excitement over young Kimi and George being the more senior driver. Maybe it’s a bit more chilled in a way.”

Will Bottas make a return in 2026?

Bottas remains hopeful that he💛 can return to the F1 grid in 2026.

Sauber overlooked the Finn 𝕴as they signed Formula 2 champion Gabriel Bortoleto.

Bottas’ main option appears t🦋o be Cadillac, while Alpine and Red Bull will also likely need to sign a second driver.

Cadillac are joining ꧙the grid in 2026 as F1’s 11th team, but they haven’t deജcided their driver line-up yet.

They have a host of options, such as Bottas, Sergio Perez and Zhou Guan⛄yu.

168澳洲5最新开奖结果:Mick Schumacher h🌜as also been linked, while they could turn to an American driver such as Colton Herta.&n♒bsp;