Hamilton prefers Bottas as teammate in 2022

Mercedes have indicated a few times this season that they would use the summer break to announce their second driver for the 2022 season. The rumours about who will fill the coveted seat next to Lewis Hamilton have been buzzing for months now but with the race at Spa-Francorchamps just around the corner Mercedes haven't said a word. And so the rumour mill keeps on turning.

The suffering object himself, Valtteri Bottas, has indicated to MTV Sport from Finland that he himself is also still none the wiser: "Unfortunately there is nothing to say. It remains to be seen what happens. I don't think there will be any news in the short term, but yes, these things will become clear with time. Everything is moving in the right direction."

Williams' George Russell is the most likely candidate to fill Bottas' seat, while the Finn himself has been mentioned as his replacement at Williams. There are also rumours circulating that Bottas would relieve his compatriot Kimi Raikkonen at Alfa Romeo. "I can't say who we're going to talk to and what's going on, but things are being discussed so we can find the best option for next season," Bottas himself said about it.

In his own words, Bottas does have another strong asset up his sleeve: Lewis Hamilton. "Lewis told me pretty directly that he would like me to remain his teammate. Together we can do very well. It is a fact, though, that we as drivers don't have terribly much influence on it. There's a bigger machine behind it that ultimately makes those decisions."