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Agence France-Presse

Valtteri Bottas was on Monday named as Lewis Hamilton’s new teammate at Mercedes, the Finn replacing retired world champion Nico Rosberg after being freed to join the Formula One giants by Williams.
The 27-year-old Finn’s well-touted move to the all-conquering German constructor was facilitated by Williams persuading Felipe Massa to come out of retirement to race for them in 2017.
The Stuttgart-based Mercedes were left scrambling round for a second driver when Rosberg dramatically retired from the sport in December just days following his drivers’ title triumph.
While Rosberg and Hamilton were arch-rivals, Bottas said at Mercedes team headquarters that he wanted a good relationship.
“I am sure we are going to be very close,” he said. “I am sure we are going to work as a team.”
Minutes before Mercedes’ confirmation Williams’ deputy team principal Claire Williams had described Bottas, who has nine top-three finishes to his name, as “a huge talent”.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank him on behalf of the whole team, and wish him a successful season as he joins Mercedes,” she said.
Massa, who has raced for Williams since 2014, will be joined in 2017 by Canadian teenage rookie Lance Stroll.
For Bottas, this represents the ideal outcome as he moves over to a Mercedes team that has proved unbeatable in recent seasons, with Rosberg’s maiden world championship following Hamilton’s title successes in 2014 and 2015.
While Rosberg stunned F1 by turning his back on the sport, Massa was executing a U-turn after the 35-year-old had called time on his long career after the season-closing 2016 grand prix in Abu Dhabi in November.
“I’m delighted that Felipe has agreed to come out of retirement to be a part of our 2017 campaign,” said Williams.
Massa, thrilled to be back in the F1 mix for another year, said of Bottas’ move to Mercedes: “Valtteri has a great opportunity, given the turn of events over the winter, and I wish him all the best at Mercedes.”


Valtteri Bottas replaces retired Nico Rosberg at Mercedes for new Formula One season

Valtteri Bottas is heading to Mercedes to join Lewis Hamilton for the 2017 Formula One season. Photo: Reuters

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton walks out of the garage after the first practice session as part of the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina circuit on November 25, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

epa05681375 German former Formula 1 pilot Nico Rosberg (L) and his wife Vivian Sibold pose on the red carpet before the proclamation of the 'Athlete of the Year' (Sportler des Jahres) at the Kurhaus in Baden-Baden, Germany, 18 December 2016. EPA/PATRICK SEEGER

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Finn is freed by Williams to become Lewis Hamilton’s teammate


Valtteri Bottas replaces retired Nico Rosberg at Mercedes for new Formula One season

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Finn is freed by Williams to become Lewis Hamilton’s teammate

Finn is freed by Williams to become Lewis Hamilton’s teammate