Valtteri Bottas
Finnish racing driver (born 1989) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Valtteri Viktor Bottas[3] (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈʋɑltːeɾi ˈbotːɑs]; born 28 August 1989) is a Finnish racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber, having previously driven for Mercedes from 2017 to 2021 and Williams from 2013 to 2016. Bottas has scored 10 race wins and 67 podiums. He contributed to five Constructors' Championship wins for Mercedes, and has been Drivers' Championship runner-up twice, in 2019 and 2020.
Born | Valtteri Viktor Bottas (1989-08-28) 28 August 1989 (age 34)[1] Nastola, Finland |
---|---|
Formula One World Championship career | |
Nationality | Finnish |
2024 team | Kick Sauber-Ferrari[2] |
Car number | 77 |
Entries | 236 (234 starts) |
Championships | 0 |
Wins | 10 |
Podiums | 67 |
Career points | 1797 |
Pole positions | 20 |
Fastest laps | 19 |
First entry | 2013 Australian Grand Prix |
First win | 2017 Russian Grand Prix |
Last win | 2021 Turkish Grand Prix |
Last entry | 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix |
2023 position | 15th (10 pts) |
Previous series | |
2011 2009–10 2009, 2011 2008 2007–08 2007 | GP3 Series Formula 3 Euro Series British Formula 3 Formula Renault Eurocup Formula Renault NEC FRUK Winter Series |
Championship titles | |
2011 2008 2008 | GP3 Series Formula Renault Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 NEC |
Website | Official website |
Bottas started his racing career in karting, later advancing to single-seater championships such as the Formula Renault UK Winter Series, Formula Renault Eurocup and the Formula Renault Northern European Cup, winning the latter two in 2008. In 2009, he moved up to the Formula 3 Euroseries, finishing third in the championship and also winning the Masters of Formula 3 event. In 2010, he was hired as a test driver for the Williams Formula One team, a position he would retain throughout 2011 and 2012, taking part in 15 Friday Free Practice sessions. In 2011, he also took part in the GP3 Series, winning the championship in the final race of the season.
In 2013, he joined Williams as a full-time driver partnering Pastor Maldonado. He would remain at Williams until 2017, achieving a top championship position of fourth in 2014 and finishing on the podium nine times during his time with Williams. Following Nico Rosberg's decision to retire following the 2016 season, Bottas was signed by Mercedes as his replacement to partner Lewis Hamilton. During his time with Mercedes which would go on to last until 2022, Bottas finished in the top three of the championship four times and won 10 races in addition to 58 podiums. After five Constructors' championships won alongside Hamilton, he joined Alfa Romeo for the 2022 season.