Pat Symonds: "Keeping Bottas will be crucial to our success"

  • Published on 14 Dec 2016 13:50
  • comments 2
  • By: Dominik Wilde

Williams technical chief Pat Symonds has said that it is "crucial" Williams retain Valtteri Bottas.

The Finn is currently being courted by Mercedes to replace the recently retired Nico Rosberg, but Williams are unwilling to let their prized asset leave.

"People often underestimate the importance of continuity in a team," Symonds told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Despite all the equipment that we have, the driver is the final link between the engineers and the data."

Symonds says that one of the key reasons for retaining Bottas is to help incoming rookie driver Lance Stroll.

"You can replace one of the drivers, but you need the other driver as a reference point, especially during a season of regulation changes, which will be the case in 2017," he said. "We will have Lance Stroll, as a rookie, with no experience in Formula One, so keeping Bottas will be crucial to our success – losing him would have a heavy impact on the team."

Replies (2)

Login to reply
  • Bull if MB pay them £10m plus compensation, I'm sure they'll sell him and find a good alternative.....He's saying this to jack the price up as can be expected!

    • + 0
    • Dec 14 2016 - 15:24
    • Hemex

      Posts: 1,236

      They'd be bonkers if they did that! There's no telling how many millions they would loose by dropping in the Constructors Championship next year. If there was a "good alternative" Mercedes would not have to be so keen on Bottas to begin with. Any suggestions for them?

      • + 0
      • Dec 14 2016 - 17:55

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2023

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
31 - Apr 2
Australia
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
5 - May 7
United States of America
19 - May 21
Italy
26 - May 28
Monaco
2 - Jun 4
Spain
16 - Jun 18
Canada
30 - Jul 2
Austria
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
1 - Sep 3
Italy
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
22 - Sep 24
Japan
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
3 - Mar 5
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
16 - Jun 18
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
22 - Sep 24
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Alfa Romeo Racing
  • Points 1,608
  • Podiums 61
  • Grand Prix 185
  • Country FI
  • Date of b. Aug 28 1989 (34)
  • Place of b. Nastola, FI
  • Weight 70 kg
  • Length 1.73 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar