‘Weird’ to see Mercedes struggle, says Bottas

Valtteri Bottas admits it has been “weird” to see his former team Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton struggle in the opening stages of the 2022 season.

Having won the previous eight Constructors’ Championships, Mercedes now find themselves scrapping for what little points they can as Hamilton crossed the line in 10th in Saudi Arabia.

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Their form has been the opposite of Alfa Romeo and Bottas, who have been among the surprise packages of the season so far.

Bottas outqualified the man who replaced him at Mercedes, George Russell, at the Bahrain Grand Prix and looked on course to beat Hamilton in Saudi Arabia before his DNF.

Speaking about his former team, the Finn admitted it was “weird” to see the once dominant Mercedes struggling.

“It’s weird to see,” he said following Hamilton’s elimination in Q1, as reported by grandprix247.com.

“I would guess he had some kind of issue, I don’t know.

Saturday

8th in very close qualifying – tomorrow will be fun https://t.co/wxgdraUjj6#VB77 #F1 #SaudiArabianGP @alfa_romeo @alfaromeoorlen pic.twitter.com/jDS2EGoUbL

— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) March 26, 2022

“It is surprising to see them struggling, but it’s also nice to be able to battle with them.

“I think this was kind of the