Valtteri Bottas left the Mercedes AMG team to join the Alfa Romeo team for the 2022 season. The Finnish driver enjoyed 5 successful years with the German team and racked up 10 wins during his stay. But it looks like his dream of becoming a world champion is all but over as he joins the Swiss team.
It is highly unlikely that the Alfa Romeo F1 team will challenge for the championship anytime soon. After leaving the German team, Bottas noticed some vast differences between the two manufacturers. One of the most recognizable differences between the teams is how they operate in the factory.
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I really couldn’t imagine what I would find: Valtteri Bottas
As reported by Motorsport-Turkey, the Finnish driver mentioned that the preparations for the new season have not been ideal for him. But he revealed that the facilities at the Swiss team did surprise him. He also pointed out the differences in how things work in the factory between Alfa Romeo and Mercedes.
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“I had never visited Hinwil before and I really couldn’t imagine what I would find and I found that they have very good facilities from the BMW era. I think they invested a lot in the factory, especially in the wind tunnel. The facilities are very good,” said Bottas.
“Perhaps the thing that surprised me the most was seeing fewer people. That way, you’re less busy with the staff in various departments. This can also have a speed advantage because you don’t need to contact 10 people for a topic. You can go to one person and tell them what needs to be done,” added the Alfa Romeo driver.
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Well, it is certainly an interesting change for Bottas to jump between 2 manufacturers in the sport. It is also interesting to find out how the two major manufacturers work in their factories. Hopefully, the facilities at the Alfa Romeo factory in Hinwil will satisfy Valtteri’s needs and take them forward in the 2022 season.
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