As Valtteri Bottas left the Brackley factory, Mercedes gave him a fittingly dramatic farewell by lighting up the sky.
Valtteri Bottas has retired from the Mercedes factory after five years of service with the Brackley-based team.
The Finn, who was accompanied by his partner Tiffany Cromwell, sat in the rear of a classic Mercedes convertible as his coworkers clapped and praised him as he drove away from the factory.
Bottas, Lewis Hamilton, and team boss Toto Wolff had all visited the factory to thank the workforce for their efforts throughout 2021, and Bottas said his goodbyes on social media afterward.
“It’s my last day at the Mercedes factories today and it’s been emotional,” he said.
“It’s been nice to see all the people and I really felt proud and privileged to be able to be with the team for the five years and in all of those years getting the Constructors’ title.
“Also some FIA Drivers’ Championship trophies for me, not the winning one, but some other trophies which is something I guess!
“I just wanted to say again, thank you for all the support in these five years when I’ve been with Mercedes, the support means a lot and I think this is going to be one of the final posts for the team.
“Thank you very much and also to everyone in the team that I said goodbye to today. It was really a special day.”
Check out the video below!
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