“Alonso continues to fight at the same level as when he was champion.”

We arrived in front of our Alfa Romeo camper van and Valtteri Bottas was having midday coffee while attending another press before doing the same with MD. It’s no secret that he loves saunas, but when he was told that his interview was being held upstairs, he asked for the window to be opened immediately because it was so hot. Everything was ready, and it started with a fun talk.

How are you? Since his arrival at Alfa Romeo, will we see a different and more liberated Bottas than before?

“Okay, thank you. I’m the same as always. I may have been a little freer. Certainly the environment has changed. I’m running with a team of different nationalities and different habits, but I ‘s job is the same, it’s to run “I will try to work with the team in the best possible way as soon as possible.”

Yes, but I think he lives differently…

“Obviously, it’s a different challenge. I’m not in a championship car. It’s important to score points, but the project is long-term, so seeing improvements that the factory is happy with is my motivation. Mentally, it’s difficult.” Logically it’s a burden, but that’s what the sport is about.”

Last year, we spoke with Guanyu Zhou right here and he told us about the importance of having him as a partner. How is your relationship with him? What do you look for in a partner?

“We have had a very good relationship with Zhou from the beginning. There is a lot of respect between the two of us in order to improve the car. A fast guy who forces us to give everything. I expect from my teammates.”

Is it different from your relationship with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes?

“The relationship with Lewis was obviously different logically, because we were both in the same team, but we were both competing for the world championship title, although there may be some friction. Over the years, Hamilton and we have had a relationship of mutual respect, and today we have a relationship of mutual respect.” We are friends.

It must have been difficult to make friends back then.

“Especially the first two years it was difficult, but it’s perfectly normal to fight a driver like him.”

Alfa Romeo seems more like a family environment. In “Drive to Survive,” a lonely Bottas appeared. What is true in those images?

“Netflix doesn’t always tell the truth. Very cooperative.”

By the way, do you think you can keep running like Fernando Alonso for over 40 years?

“It’s a long way off, but it’s a very good question. I debuted 11 years ago because I’m afraid of time passing by, but I still remember it like it was yesterday. I don’t set limits for myself. , it’s very encouraging.” “I want to know how he’s doing at the moment, his career. What we do as pilots is continuously set goals to improve ourselves. Doing so will help us maintain our hunger for competition.”

But was he expected to perform as well as he did?

“It’s really inspiring. He continues to perform at the same level he did when he was world champion. It’s a great example of how to maintain good grades and advance your career.”

Quick, Hamilton or Alonso?

“Hamilton”

because?

I don’t know… (shrugs)

What are your future plans outside of F1? Are you brave enough to challenge the Dakar or the Indy 500?

“I have always followed my passion and that is how I live my life. But I love racing and will continue to do so after my F1 career. Dakar? Anything is possible. Me. likes it, but I think there’s more.”

We talked about the podium, but is Aston Martin an example to follow? And we saw Red Bull soil in Monaco.

“Aston Martin is a perfect example of how we can move from mid-level to top. They have done a great job and we can certainly look back on what they have achieved. And we’ve been looking at the Red Bull ground and all the ‘teams were going through all sorts of details to implement it into the car’.

How satisfied are you with new regulations that try to level the playing field?

“The situation continues to be difficult, especially in Monaco, which was very difficult. In the next two years there will be a more level playing field with the same regulations. Hopefully Barcelona will do well and also Mexico last year. “It was already very fast. Things haven’t changed.” We will definitely have to take a big step next season.”

The weight of the city circuit in the calendar is increasing more and more. do you like barcelona?Because there is a lot of talk about hosting a city circuit in Madrid

“I love traditional circuits more than urban ones, but ultimately I understand that this is all business too and therefore there are money rules.”

Finally, what is Valtteri Bottas like off the track?

“Outside the track I am the same (laughs). I love cycling and everything to do with nature. Simple things in life.”

thank you for your time

to you

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