Not for the primary time, is taking part in it cool. Frankly, when has Valtteri Bottas not performed it cool? A brand new and improved determine of exuberance away from the racetrack – extra on that later – the 35-year-old racer is on the verge of his last furlong this weekend. And whereas he’s not bowing out strictly on his personal phrases, he has the aura of an individual departing the game he cherishes – the one pastime he’s ever recognized – with none sense of bitterness or resentment.
Within the “piranha membership” whirlpool of the Formulation One paddock, that in itself is admirable. But he opts to not delve too deeply into the psychoanalysis of himself. As an alternative, his new life outlook is refreshingly easy.
“I’ve simply been in a position to take the piss out of myself,” he tells The Impartial, within the Stake Crew (Sauber) hospitality unit.
As ’s 12-year stint at concludes spare a thought for Bottas – Hamilton’s favorite ever teammate – on the different finish of the pit lane. A teammate who aided Hamilton’s glory years with examples of self-sacrifice not often seen in F1. A teammate who, with 5 constructors’ titles to his identify, has his personal pleasure of place in Toto Wolff’s hybrid-era juggernaut.
A lot so, in actual fact, that Bottas is ready to be welcomed again with open arms as a Mercedes reserve driver subsequent 12 months. He’ll nonetheless be a presence within the paddock
However come the tip of 58 laps on the Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, Bottas will wave goodbye – at the very least in the intervening time – to a daily spot on the most-prized grid in world motorsport after a dozen journeys across the solar. Dropped by Sauber for 2025, Bottas will begin doubtlessly his last grand prix in on Sunday.
A quiet, unassuming competitor for many of his 12 years within the sport, the Finn has opened up in methods unexpected previously 18 months or so. What’s been on the agenda? Nicely, how about indoor triathlons? And self-deprecating merchandise for charity. And nude calendars.
These days, he even sports activities a Mansell-esque moustache.
The transformation in Bottas’ facade has been tremendously uplifting and, in a sport with its justifiable share of controversies in 2024, supplied a supply of much-needed laughter. Why now, although, amid the hardest years of his profession on observe?
“I feel I’ve simply received the expertise and the change of environment in my life now… all the pieces has mixed,” he says. “It’s nearly being who I actually am.
“It’s additionally about being extra relaxed and keen to share what I do. It’s simply a neater way of life, as an alternative of following sure pointers.
“I feel lots of it’s age and expertise. Earlier in my profession, it was 24/7 F1. It was tremendous critical. However you then truly begin to perceive that some issues in life shouldn’t be that critical.”
And if there’s one trait you can not accuse Bottas of exuding in his last 12 months in F1, it’s seriousness. The Finnish racer, rooted to the as the one present driver but to attain this 12 months, has grow to be an unlikely supply of humour and positivity for the game’s continuously increasing social media technology.
Solely this week, after his teammate Zhou Guanyu secured Sauber’s first top-10 end of the season in Qatar, Bottas posted an Instagram photograph of him laughing within the pit lane with the caption: “After I received informed I’ll rating factors in 2024.”
The tomfoolery shouldn’t be mistaken for apathy, nonetheless. Languishing hopelessly behind the pack, week-in week-out within the luminous 2024 Sauber automotive, has not been an uplifting existence.
“It’s been a tough season, I’d say probably the most tough of my F1 profession,” he says. Now, he’s critical.
“Outcomes-wise, it’s truly been much like my first 12 months in F1 (when he scored 4 factors for Williams in 2013). However that’s totally different. At this stage of my profession, it’s been the hardest of rides.
“That’s the factor with this sport: it’s not all the time truthful. It’s required a unique mindset, for positive. However I’m dealing with it. And I feel I’m dealing with it nicely.”
Why plummet into darkish areas of despair, in a state of affairs largely out of your management? Sauber – who grow to be Audi in 2026 and have fairly the mountain to climb – have produced a snail of a automotive this 12 months. Signing a three-year contract upon leaving Mercedes in 2021, this was not the swansong Bottas envisaged.
Valtteri Bottas’ F1 profession (2013-2024)
Races: 245
Factors: 1797
Wins: 10
Podiums: 67
Pole positions: 20
Greatest end: 2nd in 2019 and 2020 (5x constructors’ titles, 2017-2021)
However the decade-plus profession Bottas has skilled shouldn’t be blindly dismissed as a sideshow. Debuting for Wiliams, Bottas was in the best place on the proper time when Nico Rosberg shockingly retired after successful his first title in 2016 with Mercedes.
With the 2017 season a matter of months away, Wolff wanted a driver shortly. He wanted a dependable, seasoned professional. Bottas was his man.
What adopted was one of the vital affluent partnerships in F1 historical past. In fact, it’s no secret that Bottas didn’t have Hamilton’s world-class skillset and racecraft. Not many do. However his real good grace was not misplaced on the motive force alongside him within the storage.
Nor Wolff or former chief strategist James Vowles – even when his “Valtteri, it’s James” radio messages, to sign one other incoming request to assist Hamilton, shortly grew to become meme-able materials.
Twice a runner-up, he got here closest in 2019, ending 87 factors off Hamilton. A world championship wasn’t fully unfathomable. No regrets, although.
”Being a part of that Mercedes period was superior,” he displays. “I keep in mind these occasions with a smile.
“I’ve thought of totally different races I ought to have pushed otherwise however with the expertise I had on the time and the frame of mind, I felt like I undoubtedly gave it my all.
“I gave it the very best I can… nevertheless it wasn’t fairly sufficient to beat Lewis in his prime. So no regrets.”
And so to Sunday: the finale. Bottas bowed out from Mercedes in a cloud of smoke amid Hamilton’s to Max Verstappen in 2021. As soon as once more, his good friend from Stevenage is ready to steal his limelight, as Hamilton heads to the game’s most well-known marque in Ferrari.
However Bottas received’t thoughts. Not then and never now. Overtly comfy in his personal pores and skin, with a plenitude of aerobic-inducing and charity-based hobbies on the horizon with Australian bicycle owner Tiffany Cromwell by his aspect, Bottas is a person free from any angst or misery.
There could even be a route again sooner or later for Bottas, with eleventh crew Cadillac . Nico Hulkenberg and Daniel Ricciardo have confirmed that second probabilities can come alongside in case you keep within the fray.
However till then, there will probably be no sulking after a torrid 12 months to neglect. Which, after a profession many can solely dream of, is maybe the best attribute of the lot.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix begins at 1pm (UK time) on Sunday 8 December. Protection on Sky Sports activities F1 and Predominant Occasion from 11.30am
