Hamilton 'an awesome team-mate and I'll miss him' - Bottas

Valtteri Bottas has revealed he will miss team-mate Lewis Hamilton when he leaves Mercedes at the end of the year and is confident he can class the seven-time F1 champion as a friend.

Bottas' five-year stint with Mercedes ends in just over three months' time with the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, with the hope he will have played his part in winning a fifth consecutive constructors' championship with him at the team.

The 32-year-old Finn will then embark on a new adventure with Alfa Romeo, and an opportunity to stamp his mark on the team.

Before then, assessing what he will miss about Mercedes and Hamilton, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Bottas said: "About Mercedes, many people I've become friends with.

"We've spent so much time together in the last five years, in the races and at the factory, so many personnel, for sure.

"Of course, the memories I've built with the team, being able to be part of four constructors' titles together - and hopefully a fifth one - the wins, all the amount of podiums and poles I've got with the team, all those moments I definitely will miss.

"And the same with Lewis. It's been an absolute pleasure and a real honour working alongside Lewis. We've been able to work as a team really nicely and with good respect.

"He's been an awesome team-mate, and I've learned a lot from him, and I've got no doubt he's going to do well in the future as well."

Asked as to how their relationship had evolved and whether he could class a rival as a friend, Bottas added: "I can definitely say we are friends. It's just such good respect both ways.

"We are racing each other but we are very much a team. If you look at the past few years, name me a better team? We've accomplished quite a few things."

Bottas "ready" for leading Alfa Romeo

While Bottas has challenged Hamilton for poles and wins on occasion, he has been in the shadow of the 34-year-old Briton when it comes to mounting a sustained title challenge and winning championships.

At Alfa Romeo, Bottas now faces a very different task in attempting to turn a back-of-the-midfield team into one that can threaten the major players in F1's new rules era.

"I'm looking forward to it a lot," assessed Bottas. "It's going to be quite different to what I've been used to the last five years.

"No doubt there is going to be work to do within the team to try and get better results than they are having this year.

"But that's the excitement, and once, when, and eventually we get there, the position we want to get, it's going to be really rewarding.

"And having a bit more responsibility, I'm definitely ready for it, trying to guide the team the best I can, with the years I've learned in Formula 1.

"It's crazy that next year is going to be my 10th season in Formula 1, but it's going to be nice to put my experience to good use and in a new type of environment, so I'm really looking forward to it."

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