Finnish · Nastola, Finland · Born 28 August 1989Finnish Formula 1 driver who achieved 10 Grand Prix victories and 20 pole positions during his career with Williams, Mercedes, and Alfa Romeo teams.
Valtteri Viktor Bottas was born on 28 August 1989 in Nastola, Finland, and began kart racing at six, later studying automotive engineering and completing Finland's mandatory military service before progressing through Formula Renault and Formula Three, winning the GP3 Series championship in 2011. Bottas made his Formula One debut with Williams in 2013, before moving to Mercedes in 2017 as a replacement for the retiring Nico Rosberg, becoming teammate to Lewis Hamilton during one of the most dominant periods in the team's history. Bottas won ten Grand Prix with Mercedes and finished runner-up in the World Championship in both 2019 and 2020, though he operated for much of his tenure in a supporting role to Hamilton's title campaigns, contributing to five consecutive Constructors' Championships for the team. Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo (later Sauber) in 2022, and joined the new Cadillac team for its debut 2026 season, continuing his career as one of the most experienced and respected drivers on the grid, renowned for his consistency and technical feedback throughout his time at the sport's top level.
Mercedes F1 driver, multiple race winner, Lewis Hamilton's teammate
How They Played
Smooth driving style, strong qualifier, excellent team player
Lasting Impact
Solid #2 driver at Mercedes during their dominant era, consistent podium finisher
Career Honours
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Russian Grand Prix 2017
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2017
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Austrian Grand Prix 2017
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2018
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Bahrain Grand Prix 2020
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Russian Grand Prix 2020
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Turkish Grand Prix 2021
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Russian Grand Prix 2021
- FIA Formula 3 European Championship Winner 2012
- Formula 1 Constructors' Champion 2017 (Mercedes)
- Formula 1 Constructors' Champion 2018 (Mercedes)
- Formula 1 Constructors' Champion 2019 (Mercedes)
- Formula 1 Constructors' Champion 2020 (Mercedes)
- Formula 1 Runner-Up Driver's Championship 2019
- Formula 1 Fastest Lap Award 2019 (joint)
- Formula 1 Grand Prix Winner – Japanese Grand Prix 2017
| Constructor | Season(s) | Races |
|---|---|---|
| Williams | 2013–2016 | 77 |
| Mercedes-AMG Petronas | 2017–2021 | 101 |
| Alfa Romeo / Kick Sauber | 2022–2024 | 68 |
| Cadillac | 2026 | — |
| Career Total | — | 246 |
Finnish Athletes