Valtteri Bottas sends Lewis Hamilton warning to rivals: 'He's going to have the fire inside him - so, beware!'

Valtteri Bottas believes former teammate Lewis Hamilton will be more fired up than ever going into the 2022 Formula 1 season.

Bottas, who spent five years alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, believes the seven-time world champion will have a ‘fire inside him’ after how the 2021 season ended.

“After everything that happened at the end of last year, you’ll see,” Bottas told The Race at Alfa Romeo’s car launch. “He’s going to be pretty strong and he’s going to have the fire inside him – so, beware!”

Bottas is referring to, of course, the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi GP. Hamilton had been set to take a record eighth drivers title until a late Safety Car caused by Nicholas Latifi’s crash.

However, the dubious restarting of the race left Hamilton prone to an attack from Max Verstappen, who was on fresh soft tyres compared to Hamilton’s worn hards.

Also read: Alfa Romeo’s Valterri Bottas looking to shake off disappointing testing session

Verstappen would win the title, but the fall-out from the race was massive. Fans were dismayed at an ending that belied sporting logic and the FIA promised action.

The probe from the sport’s governing body took time but did lead to the firing of race director Michael Masi. It also led to a review of the rules and a changing in the way the race director works.

Hamilton himself has dropped enough hints that he is ready for a world title run this year too. Whether or not it happens will only be determined at the start of the season.

Valtteri Bottas dubs Hamilton ‘a living legend’

But even if Hamilton does not win another title, he is already a ‘living legend’ according to Bottas. The Finn looked back fondly at their time together at Mercedes, which saw them win five constructor’s titles in a row.

“I had a great five years with Lewis as his team-mate, and now actually thinking about it, it was an honour. Like, he’s a living legend!

“And he’s a great guy and great driver – really fast. He definitely made me work hard to try and beat him.

“Sometimes I could, but on a season average, I couldn’t. So that’s how it goes. You always meet – eventually – someone who’s better than you and you need to accept it.

“And I’m fine with it. I’m happy that sometimes when I was at my best that I could beat him.

“But we came a long way. We achieved so much together, so many 1-2 results. Five constructors’ championships together.

“I learned from him about life and about racing, and maybe vice versa as well. So, it was a really good time with him.”