Valtteri Bottas

Bio

Valtteri Viktor Bottas was born on August 28, 1989, in Nastola, Finland. Following in the tradition of Finnish F1 greats like Keke Rosberg, Mika Häkkinen, and Kimi Räikkönen, Bottas brought his characteristic Nordic determination and ice-cool composure to the sport. Bottas's junior career was solid: he won the Formula Renault Eurocup in 2008, competed in Formula 3, and was runner-up in the GP3 Series. He served as Williams' test driver before being promoted to a race seat in 2013. At Williams, he established himself as one of the most consistent and underrated drivers on the grid, taking podium finishes and regularly outperforming the car — particularly in the 2014 season when Williams produced their most competitive car in years. The defining move of Bottas's career came in 2017 when he replaced the retiring Nico Rosberg at Mercedes to partner Lewis Hamilton. Over five seasons (2017-2021), Bottas became one of the most important drivers in Mercedes' unprecedented dominance of F1. He won 10 races, took 20 pole positions, and played a crucial role in securing multiple constructors' championships by consistently providing the points needed to fend off rivals. The Hamilton-Bottas dynamic was fascinating. While Bottas couldn't regularly match Hamilton's peak performances, he was fast enough to be competitive and team-oriented enough to support the constructors' effort. His qualifying speed was particularly impressive — he frequently matched or outqualified Hamilton, earning the nickname "Bottas 2.0" after a particularly strong start to the 2019 season. After Mercedes, Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo (Sauber) in 2022, bringing his development expertise and experience to a team that needed a senior figure. His dry Finnish humour, social media presence (including his viral coffee brand and cycling adventures), and open, personable character made him one of the most beloved figures in the F1 paddock — popular well beyond what his on-track results might suggest. His vast experience in championship-winning machinery makes him an invaluable asset as he brings his knowledge to the Cadillac project, helping guide the newest team on the grid through its formative years in Formula 1.