Hamilton's F1 title loss cost Bottas money too, but the driver says it doesn't matter

 • Former Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas has admitted Hamilton's title loss cost him some money, but would not reveal how the team's bonus system works. • Bottas joins Alfa Romeo F1 team in 2022, and says the financial bonus loss does not really matter to him. • Mercedes gifted the driver with his W08 car he raced with in 2017 when he joined the team. • For motoring news, go to Wheels24.

Valtteri Bottas admits Lewis Hamilton's world championship defeat last year also cost him a lot of money.

"You are right," the Finn smiled when asked about lost team bonuses that are otherwise payable by the Mercedes team for all title victories."It was quite a final lap," Bottas added, referring to the way Red Bull's Max Verstappen benefitted from the race director's controversial safety car call in Abu Dhabi.

"Certain bonuses are tied to certain achievements," he confirmed, although he declined to reveal further details of the Mercedes bonus system.

"Luckily, I hadn't gotten anything in advance," Bottas, who is switching to Alfa Romeo for 2022 and beyond, is quoted by Oksari Saari and the Iltalehti newspaper.

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't."

But while the lost bonus may be a big deal for many Mercedes employees, Bottas admits that he has made enough money in his Formula 1 career so far not to have to worry.

"I don't really measure it like that, but at some point, a moment came when there was no need to look at the bank balance anymore," he admits.

"Money is, of course, a big thing in Formula 1, but I remember where I come from, and I have done quite well because of that."

Mercedes even presented Bottas with the perfect parting gift at his recent farewell party - the W08 car he first drove for the team in 2017.

"It was a big surprise