Valtteri Bottas

Valtteri Viktor Bottas was born on 28 August 1989 and raised in Nastola, Finland. His journey into motorsport began at the tender age of six when he started kart racing, setting the foundation for what would become a distinguished racing career.

Before pursuing his racing ambitions full-time, Bottas studied automotive engineering and completed his mandatory military service in Finland. He transitioned to junior formulae in 2007, quickly establishing himself as a formidable competitor.

His breakthrough came in 2008 when he claimed his first championship victory in Formula Renault NEC. That same year, he won the Formula Renault Eurocup in a thrilling campaign, defeating Daniel Ricciardo by just three points while racing for Motopark.

Bottas continued his winning ways with ART, capturing the prestigious Masters of Formula 3 in back-to-back years in 2009 and 2010. He capped off his junior career by winning the GP3 Series championship in 2011, firmly establishing his credentials for Formula One.

After spending two years as a test driver, Bottas made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2013, partnering Pastor Maldonado at the Australian Grand Prix. His breakthrough season came in 2014 when he finished fourth in the championship and claimed his maiden career podium at the Austrian Grand Prix. Across four seasons at Williams, he secured nine podium finishes.

The defining moment of Bottas's career came in 2017 when Mercedes signed him to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg alongside Lewis Hamilton. He made an immediate impact, taking his maiden pole position in Bahrain and his first victory in Russia. That debut season with Mercedes yielded four wins, including victories in Austria and Abu Dhabi, as he finished third in the championship.

Bottas reached the pinnacle of his career during 2019 and 2020, finishing runner-up in the World Drivers' Championship in both seasons behind teammate Hamilton. After a winless 2018 campaign, these consecutive second-place finishes represented his best championship results. His final victory for Mercedes came at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix, before departing the team after contributing to five consecutive World Constructors' Championships.

He joined Alfa Romeo in 2022 and retained his seat for 2023. Following a challenging non-scoring 2024 season with the re-branded Sauber team, Bottas returned to Mercedes as a reserve driver while securing a contract to compete for Cadillac Formula 1 Team.

Beyond racing, Bottas completed his studies in automotive engineering, demonstrating his technical understanding of the sport. As a Finnish citizen, he also fulfilled his mandatory military service before fully committing to his professional racing career.