Biography of Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas

Bottas found plenty of success before Formula 1 and capped off his junior career with a GP3 Championship win in 2011 that followed back-to-back triumphs in the 2009 and 2010 Masters of Formula 3, becoming the first driver to win the series for a second time.

His switch to Formula 1 was a gradual one as he served as Williams test driver in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The British team would finally give him a seat for the 2013 campaign alongside Pastor Maldonado.

Hindered by an uncompetitive Williams car, the Finn nonetheless showed what he was capable of on a few occasions, qualifying third at the Canadian Grand Prix and picking up his first points at the United States Grand Prix.

That result helped Bottas finish the season ahead of Maldonado in the standings and served as a launching point for his success in 2014. Now partnered by Felipe Massa, Bottas secured six podiums en route to a fourth-place finish in the drivers’ championship, beating former world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.

Bottas’ form would carry over to 2015 and 2016, but with Williams falling further down the grid in terms of performance, a change was in the cards and he joined Mercedes when Nico Rosberg announced his sudden retirement after winning the Drivers’ Championship.

The Finn hit the ground running with his new team, picking up a podium in his first race and collecting his first pole position at the Bahrain Grand Prix. He would taste victory for the first time two weeks later at the Russian Grand Prix after overtaking Ferrari duo Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen on the opening lap, becoming the fifth Finn to win a Grand Prix.

Two more victories would follow, while 2018 would see Bottas finish second seven times, the most ever by a driver without taking a win. Despite showing flashes of world class talent, Bottas has never truly troubled Hamilton over the course of an entire season, finishing second to the Brit in both 2019 and 2020 while registering nine wins compared to the Brit’s 42 during their time as teammates.

Valtteri Bottas in Formula 1

Although Finland has produced Formula 1 world champions like Mika Hakkinen and Keke Rosberg, Bottas’ helmet takes inspiration from Olivier Panis, the former Ligier, Prost, BAR and Toyota driver who won the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix.

Off the track Bottas has a military rank of Lance corporal after serving briefly in the army, a requirement for adult males in Finland. He was also voted ‘Top Soldier’ by his group.