© Steve Etherington for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff says Valtteri Bottas is his friend and “a big part of the success of this team that he’s not going to be leaving us”.
In 2022 Valtteri Bottas is moving from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo after five years with the team. Toto Wolff says the Finn will still remain in the Mercedes family.
“The relationship is great,” the Austrian said.
“I know him since 2008, and he’s not only driving for our team, but he’s also my friend.
“He’s always going to stay in the family, not only personally but for the team and Mercedes even though he’s going be a fully-fledged Alfa driver.
“But he’s been such a big part of the success of this team that he’s not going to be leaving us, he’s just in another garage.”
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In previous years Toto has been a part of Valtteri’s management team, along with Didier Coton and two-time Formula 1 champion Mika Hakkinen.
Both Wolff and Bottas started their Formula 1 careers with Williams. First Toto bought into the team in 2009, and became executive director in 2012, and then in 2013 Valtteri made his F1 debut with the team, after Wolff departed for Mercedes.
When Nico Rosberg announced his surprise retirement at the end of 2016, Wolff recruited Bottas to Mercedes and they won five Constructors’ Championships together.
