Valtteri Bottas partnered Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for five seasons. He joined in 2017 following world champion Nico Rosberg’s shock retirement, and restored harmony to the team. The relationship between Hamilton and Rosberg had become virtually non-existent, it seemed, by the time the German departed. But things were always cordial with Bottas. In a sense, that reflects the Finn’s limitations. Had he been faster and more of a threat to Hamilton, there may have been tension. Bottas would score 10 victories and 20 pole positions across his time at Brackley. He’d arrived with nine podiums unde…
