F1 has given some historic teammate pairings. From Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna to Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, they’ve blended team spirit with rivalry perfectly. In recent times, Bottas and Hamilton’s friendship on and off the track has caught a lot of attention. They spent five seasons together, during which the duo worked in coordination to create history with Mercedes. And even after parting ways, their bond remains the same.

It’s unclear how often they meet outside of racing, but during race weekends, you’ll see them catching up. Whether they are discussing careers or just gossiping is a secret, but fans love seeing a ‘4477’ reunion each race weekend. During the Drivers’ Parade at the Belgian GP, Lewis Hamilton stirred up some mischief behind Bottas. Within moments, a startled Valtteri turned back to see what was going on.

What happened? Cheeky Lewis had been hiding behind the Stake Sauber driver. And when he got the opportunity, he surprised Bottas with a ‘snakebite’. Oh no, it wasn’t a real snakebite! The 7x champ playfully squeezed Bottas’ bottom which took the Finnish driver by shock. “I think you got a bonus bum squeeze from Lewis,” the interviewer remarked. Bottas chuckled and said: “I got a snake bite.”

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton was laughing at the back. It was an endearing moment between the two of them. They’ve retained their friendship after all these years. The F1 ace once said that Bottas was a great teammate and well, their bond speaks for it.

Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas: The power duo of F1

Lewis Hamilton was already ruling in F1 when Valtteri Bottas joined Mercedes. From 2017 to 2021, the Silver Arrows enjoyed their most glorious era. While Hamilton was winning races and shattering other teams, Bottas worked in coordination to defend Hamilton’s position. When the time came, the Brit did the same for his teammate. Although Lewis overpowered Bottas in most races, their five F1 campaigns were adorned with success and glory.

Bottas saw Lewis Hamilton win four drivers’ titles. This also included the record-leveling seventh championship and new milestones for most pole positions and wins. Meanwhile, the Finnish driver won 10 races with the team. Over the years, despite the rivalry, their friendship has bloomed beautifully. Keeping aside the highs and lows of the sport, the iconic ‘4477’ duo continues to nurture their kinship. Now as players of separate teams, they are adversaries, however, it seems they can’t keep their tough stance around each other.

Hamilton and Bottas are always spotted sharing a good laugh, reminding us that amidst the super competitive world, a good friendship brings laughter and relief during stressful times. As they continue their journey in F1, their rivalry walks along, but such delightful moments, like the ‘snakebite’ should be there from time to time, just to keep the tense air in the paddock on a lighter note.

Meanwhile, the Belgian GP waits to unfurl. Who among Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas will have the last laugh? What do you think?