Formula 1 driver Valterri Bottas drives a Mercedes again

After five seasons in the Mercedes F1 team, George Russel succeeded Valterri Bottas in 2022. Since then, the Finn has been driving for the Alfa Romeo Formula 1 team. But now Bottas is driving the same Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton. We’re not talking about the W14, but about the Mercedes-AMG One.

During his time with the Mercedes F1 team, the brand started developing the Mercedes-AMG One, although the car was still called Project One at the time. The Formula 1 driver put himself on the waiting list like Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. It finally arrived yesterday after a long delay. Valterri Bottas received his AMG One.

Formula 1 engine in the Mercedes-AMG One

The complicated powertrain will no doubt have helped delay this extraordinary project. The Mercedes-AMG One is powered by the 1.6-liter V6 hybrid engine that is also used in the manufacturer’s Formula 1 cars. In the premier class of racing, however, the engines only last a few races at most, while the engine in the Mercedes-AMG One actually has to last a little longer.

So it wasn’t that easy to take the V6 out of an F1 car and put it in the back of the AMG One. One of the obstacles was the high idle speed of the Formula 1 cars. When idling, the crankshaft of these engines rotates 5,000 pirouettes per minute. With the Mercedes-AMG One, this had to be reduced to 1,200 rpm. In addition, there were emission standards that the car had to meet.

Daily rate for F1 drivers Valterri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton

Ultimately, Mercedes managed to put the F1 engine in the road car. Although the V6 has to be overhauled every 50,000 kilometers, the question is whether someone can manage that many meters with the hypercar. After all, the Mercedes-AMG One can be put in the same league as the McLaren F1, which undoubtedly makes the car a worthwhile investment.

For Bottas, Hamilton and Rosberg, driving an F1 car is part of everyday life, i.e. for the top speed of 350 km/h, the power of 1,063 hp or the rev limiter, which only kicks in at 11,000 rpm, the (old) Formula 1 drivers don’t do that.