Being Lewis Hamilton’s teammate is likely one of the hardest jobs in motorsport historical past, and few make it out the opposite facet.
The problem retired Nico Rosberg in 2016 and noticed Fernando Alonso quit a mega transfer to McLaren after only one yr.
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But one of many drivers to search out the seven-time champion’s good facet was Valtteri Bottas, who helped create essentially the most profitable crew in Components 1 historical past, gathering 5 of eight-straight constructors’ titles with him in silver.
The Finn additionally took 20 pole positions and ten wins alongside Hamilton and whereas the expertise put the fan favorite in good stead for a 2026 return to F1, it did go away its mark.
Talking solely to talkSPORT.com on the British Grand Prix, the Mercedes reserve driver stated: “For certain, it made me higher. For certain.
“I discovered rather a lot about sport, rather a lot about life, rather a lot about myself. It is robust as a result of yearly I used to be looking for one thing extra. What can I do higher than I did final yr?
“All the time resetting, all the time giving every little thing you’ve. I actually really feel like I aged ten years in these 5 years. It is robust however on the similar time, you take pleasure in it as a result of that is what you are right here for. It is to problem your self.
“Attempting to take advantage of out of each scenario. I have a look at these years with… I might be happy with what I did as a result of I all the time tried every little thing I may.”
Bottas might not have reached his final purpose of the championship, however was integral in creating essentially the most profitable crew of all time, a report that makes a 2026 return possible amid hyperlinks to Cadillac and Alpine.
There are different components too, the entire change he’s been by means of up to now few years, sporting a mullet and moustache and changing into adored on social media with a variety of viral campaigns.
Unrecognisable from the shy and barely company determine from his Williams and Mercedes years, Bottas is now thriving in a sport that retains embracing distinction, and he’s now firmly a fan favorite regardless of not even being on the grid.
“I believe the game has actually opened up rather a lot,” the previous Sauber driver defined.
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“One huge step was, even not that way back, when social media was lastly allowed. In Bernie’s [Ecclestone] time, that was not even allowed. I believe the game is booming.
“Individuals are realising that it is vital to have characters and exhibiting who you actually are.
“It is all the time a bonus in the event you do not take your self too severely, like me. I am good with age, with expertise.
“I’ve discovered, for me, the appropriate solution to do social media, which is used as a enjoyable software as a substitute of one thing too severe.
“I believe every little thing is in the appropriate steadiness for me. I really feel like I can keep on Components 1 for an extended, very long time as a result of I’ve obtained a very good steadiness in life.”
Even earlier than his public persona modified, the identical might be stated in personal, and Hamilton made certain to let the world know when requested who his favourite-ever teammate was.
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“Vatteri, it was simply enjoyable, we had a variety of enjoyable through the years,” the seven-time champion stated.
“There was an actual camaraderie and though he needed to beat me there was an actual respect that we all the time had.
“There have been by no means any video games between us, it was simply straight on, we travelled collectively and constructed a extremely good friendship.”
The 2 teammates separated in 2021 as Bottas headed to Alfa Romeo across the similar time he discovered a brand new companion and lease of life.
He now shares his life with Australian skilled bicycle owner, Tiffany Cromwell, and spends most of his day without work together with her on the bike, whereas he’s additionally gone viral for participating in final minute iron man occasions as one of many fittest drivers within the paddock, even at 35.
In reality, so match is he that he just lately competed in an official UCI gravel biking occasion, and has even received a aggressive race in Finland.
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Bottas additionally owns a number of companies, together with gin, and likewise espresso, admitting to talkSPORT that 5 espressos a day is a part of a routine that retains him in tip prime form.
“I like coaching. I’ve all the time cherished sports activities,” he defined. “For some individuals who dislike sports activities and coaching, it is harder to keep up or enhance health. However for me, I simply actually take pleasure in it. So it is a good factor for me.”
Such heroics make him a horny proposition for any crew in 2026, and each Bottas and new arrivals Cadillac gave the impression to be flirting with one another at Silverstone as he echoed the phrases of CEO Dan Towriss that have is their most important standards for subsequent yr’s drivers.
“There are nonetheless many paid drivers, for certain. However I believe there’s nonetheless house for drivers with out cash,” the Finn stated.
“For me in the meanwhile, my robust level is my expertise. Being racing in three completely different groups, particularly racing right here [at Mercedes].
“In order that’s all the time going to be my energy. And there’ll all the time be groups that can want that have.
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“I hope that there is nonetheless house for me. I believe the subsequent month or so shall be fairly attention-grabbing for me to determine what’s actually occurring.”
There’s additionally the legacy on the road too, with Bottas off the grid for 2025 – this was the primary time in 36 years with out a Finn on the grid.
Solely Britain, Brazil, Germany and Argentina have supplied extra drivers’ world championships than Finland’s 4, and Bottas is eager to make this yr an exception.
“I believe the Finns can be completely happy to see a driver once more,” he stated. “Hopefully begin one other streak of a few years on this sport.
“I began go-karting races once I was six. And for me it was simply all the time about Components 1. That was all the time the goal. And I believe that is as a result of I used to be following Mika Hakkinen and his profession within the 90s.
“In order that was an enormous motivation for me. I believe as a result of we have all the time had the heroes that inspire the youngsters. I believe that is been an enormous issue.
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“And it is all the time been part of the tradition. Motorsports, any type of motorsports like motocross, rally, single-seaters. It is all the time been fashionable in Finland. A bit like within the UK, it is simply within the blood of the individuals.”
It’s definitely in Bottas’ blood too, and will we see him again in F1 subsequent yr, it received’t simply be Hamilton who’s over the moon.