Valtteri Bottas hit back at the rumor that he could be replaced before the 2021 Formula 1 season ends, taking a swipe at Red Bull in doing so.
A report emerged that an anonymous Mercedes Formula 1 engineer stated that there has been recent “unrest at the factory” due to the performance of Valtteri Bottas, leading to the rumor that the team may call upon George Russell to replace him before the 2021 season ends.
Russell, who competes for Williams, is a Mercedes junior driver whose contract with Williams is set to expire at the end of the season, much like Bottas’s is with Mercedes.
Russell filled in for Lewis Hamilton last season in the Sakhir Grand Prix at Bahrain International Circuit after Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 and impressed the team in a car he barely fit inside, leaving him with banged-up knees and bloody knuckles.
He notably passed Bottas in the opening corner and dominated him in the race before two circumstances out of his control ruined his chance at the win late.
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Responding to that report of “unrest”, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner stated that Bottas has “done a great job” and that he would be “surprised” if Mercedes made a midseason driver swap.
Taken at face value, this is nothing more than a compliment, but when it comes to the discussion about the competition between these two teams that takes place away from the race track, it’s hard to take anything at face value. Now Bottas has responded to the rumor, and in doing so, he took a shot a Horner and the Red Bull organization.
Here is what he had to say.
"“I know that I’m not going to be replaced in the middle of the season. As a team, we don’t do that. I have a contract for this year and I think there’s only one team that does that kind of thing in F1, and we are not them. So no pressure from my side. I know how things are, there’s always bullshit around — that’s part of the sport.”"
Bottas is, of course, referencing recent midseason driver changes that have taken place at Red Bull. After four races in the 2016 season, they replaced Daniil Kvyat with Max Verstappen, and after 12 races in the 2019 season, they replaced Pierre Gasly with Alexander Albon.
One could make the case, however, that this is different because Kvyat and Gasly were demoted to Toro Rosso (now AlphaTauri), which serve as the sister Red Bull team. They weren’t dropped from the organization completely when they were replaced at the top team during the season.
Nevertheless, the 31-year-old Finn made his point loud and clear — perhaps Horner will be even more “surprised” if a switch takes place.