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Why Mercedes picked Bottas

Finally, Valtteri Bottas has been confirmed as Nico Rosberg's replacement at Mercedes. The Finn was one of several drivers under contract elsewhere for 2017, so what made him the best choice to partner Lewis Hamilton?

When Valtteri Bottas pulled into the pits to retire his Williams at the end of the sixth lap of last year's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he couldn't possibly have dreamed the next time he drives a Formula 1 car in anger will be for the best team on the grid, one that has dominated F1 for the past three seasons.

But as Bottas climbed from his broken car and headed home for the winter, Nico Rosberg was busy navigating the most difficult race of his life, knowing if he succeeded he would likely retire from F1 as its new world champion.

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