Valtteri Bottas has named a Finnish talent he believes will be the next new driver from the Nordic country.
Bottas' stint as a full-time grand prix driver came to an end at the end of the 2024 F1 season as Stake opted to replace the 35-year-old.
His journey in F1 began in 2013 and became the latest Finnish hopeful to make a name for himself following successful periods for drivers such as Kimi Raikkonen and Mika Hakkinen.
Casting an eye to the new generation, Bottas named Ferrari Driver Academy youngster Tuukka Taponen as the next in line.
“It’s been a good run for Finns. I hope there's somebody [else] joining soon,” Bottas told media including RacingNews365.
“I think the guy at the moment who is closest is Tuukka Taponen in F4 - he’s going to be in F3 next year [with ART Grand Prix].
“That’s going to be a really key season for him to prove what he can do. It's been a good run.”
Bottas has re-joined Mercedes as a reserve driver for 2025 as he looks to retain his links in F1 in an effort to secure a seat for next year.
“In my mind, it’s still not my last race,” he outlined. “Obviously, for next year it’s definitely more challenging.
“But for 2026, there can be opportunities.”
Most read
In this article
Join the conversation!