Valtteri Bottas has explained that adjusting to a new Formula 1 team is a matter of time and learning, describing it as “not rocket science,” while commenting on Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties in adapting to Ferrari. Bottas, who spent five years alongside Hamilton at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021, acknowledged the challenges involved when switching teams and cars in F1.
During their time together, Mercedes secured consecutive constructors’ championships, outperforming rivals like Ferrari and Red Bull. Bottas left Mercedes ahead of the 2022 season, making way for George Russell‘s arrival. Afterward, Bottas joined Alfa Romeo (now Sauber), a team powered by Ferrari engines, putting him through a transition similar to Hamilton’s current situation at Ferrari.
Insights into the Learning Process from Bottas’ Experience
Bottas shared that while adapting to Alfa Romeo’s Ferrari-powered car took effort, the process was manageable due to the necessity of constant adjustment inherent in F1. He emphasized the ongoing nature of learning given yearly changes in cars and power units.
“For sure, there’s things to learn, things to get used to,”
Bottas said on the Red Flags podcast.
He added that having a teammate already familiar with the machinery provides an initial advantage but reiterated that racing drivers must continually adapt.
You need to be able to adapt to a new car. Pretty much every year there’s a new car anyway – power units will change and so on. So it’s nothing unusual in F1 that you’re always adapting, always learning because this sport just keeps developing.
Bottas further noted that when he joined Alfa Romeo, the sport was undergoing major regulation changes, adding complexity to the adjustment but also offering context for his personal experience.
“But we must remember that at that time when I joined Alfa Romeo, there was the big regulation change so there were many new things anyway already.”
Technical Differences Between Ferrari and Mercedes Power Units
Bottas detailed how Hamilton’s adaptation difficulties partly stem from the technical contrasts between Ferrari and Mercedes power units, with Hamilton having spent his entire career driving Mercedes-powered cars.
“The driveability is a bit different. How the power comes, especially at the lower revs. But which one is better? It’s difficult to say,”
Bottas stated, highlighting the differences in power delivery.
He also pointed out the need to learn new power-harvesting and deployment strategies, as the systems are named and managed differently between the teams.
“Even the harvesting, the braking can be a bit different because of that. [The sound] can be different, but that doesn’t really make a big difference. That’s it really. It’s not rocket science.”
In addition, Bottas downplayed the impact of brake supplier variations between Mercedes and Ferrari or Sauber.
“For me, it didn’t make a difference,”
he explained.
“Obviously, Mercedes uses CI. Sauber used Brembo, which is what Ferrari used. The only small difference for me was how the brakes warm up. Another brand warms up quicker, but for me the behaviour was the same.”
Implications for Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Adaptation Challenges
Hamilton’s ongoing adjustment to Ferrari should be viewed as a natural phase for drivers switching teams in Formula 1, given the many technical variables involved. Bottas’ comments suggest that while the process is demanding and can create initial performance gaps compared to experienced teammates, it is manageable with time and persistence.
Understanding the nuances of Ferrari’s power unit, braking system, and car behavior will likely help Hamilton find consistency as he continues to adapt. As Bottas pointed out, no drastic or insurmountable challenges exist; the challenges faced by Hamilton at Ferrari are part of an expected learning curve within an increasingly complex and evolving sport.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Racecar driver Lewis Hamilton openly expresses his passion for veganism. Additionally, he invests in businesses that focus on plant-based products.
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton a vegan?
A. Lewis Hamilton believes he showed critics they were mistaken by thriving on a vegan diet. He switched to veganism in 2017, ignoring his doctors’ concerns. After becoming vegan, he has won four championships and feels more energetic. Hamilton is among several athletes who have successfully adopted a plant-based diet.
