BOTTAS, A COOL HEAD IN FIERY SPORT
Helsinki, March 21: Valtteri Bottas was just six years old when he started go-kart racing, a little Finnish boy dreaming of winning a Formula One title.
On Sunday that dream moves a step closer to reality when he takes his place on the grid in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton’s new team mate at Mercedes.
In January, the all-conquering German constructor cherry picked Bottas to replace their retired German champion Nico Rosberg.
Born on August 28, 1989 in Nastola, a small lake-side community surrounded by the vast forests of southern Finland, Bottas honed his driving skills on muddy and icy roads.
One of the greats of Finnish motor sport, rally world champion Ari Vatanen, described Bottas as a level-headed, “trustworthy” person, the kind of guy you want on your team.
“He is very analytical and calm. Credible, without any diva attitudes, a guy with his feet firmly on the ground,” Vatanen said.
After completing his basic education, Bottas studied car mechanics at vocational school, continuing his racing career on the side. By 2009, at the age of 19, the talented young driver was already competing in Formula Three.
At the time, the confident adolescent boasted that within five years he would be driving a Formula One car that would allow him to win the world title.
In 2010, Williams made him their F1 test driver, and for the 2013 season he became the second Finn after Keke Rosberg to race for Williams.
It’s taken more than five years for him to earn a drive in a car capable of winning the title, but now he does at Mercedes.
“When you can make it to... A team that is on top of the mountain, winning championships and able to win races, then it’s up to you only,” exchampion Mika Hakkinen said.