“Hamilton Can Do Whatever He Wants”: Valtteri Bottas Exposes Mercedes’ Toxic Culture as Lewis’ Privileges Face Backlash Online

Whether it is Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez at Red Bull or when Valtteri Bottas was still there at Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton, top F1 teams, expressly or impliedly, have a number 1 and number 2 driver. The choice is mainly there to avoid any conflict between the two drivers on the track and to optimize results in the team’s favor. However, it can get a lot troublesome and toxic if such a hierarchy spills over to their lives outside of F1. Living his life more freely and as per his own terms now, Bottas recently hit out at his former employers for curbing his freedom while his teammate was allowed to carry himself whichever way he pleased.

Bottas becoming the unsaid number 2 driver at Mercedes was never a surprise given the vast difference between his abilities on the track in contrast to those of Lewis’. However, the Silver Arrows’ own strategies and calls did not do him any favors. They often asked the Finnish driver to give up his place to let his teammate pass. At one point, he had had enough of it and even contemplated quitting the team.

Valtteri Bottas comes out all guns blazing against Mercedes

Since last year after joining Alfa Romeo, many fans noticed a change in Bottas’ attitude. They felt that he looked a lot more relaxed and expressed himself more freely. Then we witnessed him having a great time in Australia and sporting a mullet in Drive to Survive’s latest season.

Valtteri feels that would not have been possible if he was still driving for Mercedes as it is a workplace with a more professional setting. Some fans agreed with him while calling out Hamilton’s privilege of doing anything he wants. Others failed to find any merit in his argument, again quoting Lewis’ example.

Have a look at some reactions to his comments on Twitter.

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Others found Bottas’ criticism inaccurate citing Hamilton’s lifestyle which Mercedes allows without any restrictions.

Some felt the Brackley-based team could not have kept different standards for their two drivers.

Bottas in his statement said that he “wouldn’t have been allowed” to wear a mullet at Mercedes. Some fans felt his criticism did not make much sense because he never tried it during his time there and therefore his opinion was simply based on conjecture.

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Which side of the fence are you on? Do you believe Mercedes kept different standards of conduct for Hamilton and Bottas when they were teammates?