Ever since Alfa Romeo launched its campaign, professionals and fans have been wondering if Valtteri Bottas will return to Mercedes. Yes, but not in the way we previously thought!
If the information from former F1 driver and current insider Christian Fittipaldi is correct, Bottas could return as Toto Wolff's right-hand man, in a sort of mentoring role. The comparison to a right-hand man is not at all exaggerated, as according to Fittipaldi, Bottas is inheriting the position from Jerome d'Ambrosio, who is leaving for Ferrari.
Just how big a leap this represents for the Finn is illustrated by the fact that d'Ambrosio was considered a serious contender for the Mercedes team principal position after Wolff's retirement. As his replacement, he also led Mercedes on several occasions. If true, this could be great news for recent signing Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who has a good relationship with the Finnish driver, and it would be hard to find a better person than Valtteri Bottas to help the newcomer settle in.
