Being Lewis Hamilton’s teammate is one of the hardest jobs in motorsport history, and few make it out the other side.
The challenge retired Nico Rosberg in 2016 and saw Fernando Alonso give up a mega move to McLaren after just one year.
Bottas and Hamilton had unparalleled success at Mercedes and still remain strong friends Partnering Hamilton has destroyed many drivers, but Bottas is willing to go againAFPYet one of the drivers to find the seven-time champion’s good side was Valtteri Bottas, who helped create the most successful team in Formula 1 history, collecting five of eight-straight constructors’ titles with him in silver.
The Finn also took 20 pole positions and ten wins alongside Hamilton and while the experience put the fan favourite in good stead for a 2026 return to F1, it did leave its mark.
Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT.com at the British Grand Prix, the Mercedes reserve driver said: “For sure, it made me better. For sure.
“I learned a lot about sport, a lot about life, a lot about myself. It’s tough because every year I was trying to find something more. What can I do better than I did last year?
“Always resetting, always giving everything you have. I really feel like I aged ten years in those five years. It’s tough but at the same time, you enjoy it because that’s what you’re here for. It’s to challenge yourself.
“Trying to make the most out of every situation. I look at those years with… I can be proud of what I did because I always tried everything I could.”
Bottas may not have reached his ultimate goal of the championship, but was integral in creating the most successful team of all time, a record that makes a 2026 return likely amid links to Cadillac and Alpine.
There are other factors too, the complete change he’s been through in the past few years, sporting a mullet and moustache and becoming adored on social media with a number of viral campaigns.
Unrecognisable from the shy and slightly corporate figure from his Williams and Mercedes years, Bottas is now thriving in a sport that keeps embracing difference, and he’s now firmly a fan favourite despite not even being on the grid.
“I think the sport has really opened up a lot,” the former Sauber driver explained.
UberBottas is leaving his colleagues in the dust when it comes to nailing social media[/caption] Such activity has kept him incredibly popular even during a season without a driveGetty“One big step was, even not that long ago, when social media was finally allowed. In Bernie’s [Ecclestone] time, that was not even allowed. I think the sport is booming.
“People are realising that it’s important to have characters and showing who you really are.
“It’s always a bonus if you don’t take yourself too seriously, like me. I’m good with age, with experience.
“I’ve learned, for me, the right way to do social media, which is used as a fun tool instead of something too serious.
“I think everything is in the right balance for me. I feel like I can carry on Formula 1 for a long, long time because I’ve got a good balance in life.”
Even before his public persona changed, the same could be said in private, and Hamilton made sure to let the world know when asked who his favourite-ever teammate was.
Bottas and Hamilton achieved perfection at Mercedes and remain strong friendsGetty“Vatteri, it was just fun, we had a lot of fun over the years,” the seven-time champion said.
“There was a real camaraderie and even though he wanted to beat me there was a real respect that we always had.
“There were never any games between us, it was just straight on, we travelled together and built a really good friendship.”
The two teammates separated in 2021 as Bottas headed to Alfa Romeo around the same time he found a new partner and lease of life.
He now shares his life with Australian professional cyclist, Tiffany Cromwell, and spends most of his time off with her on the bike, while he’s also gone viral for taking part in last minute iron man events as one of the fittest drivers in the paddock, even at 35.
In fact, so fit is he that he recently competed in an official UCI gravel cycling event, and has even won a competitive race in Finland.
The Finn went viral for winning a charity race dressed as Duffman, but he’s now competing in world championship eventsBottas also owns several businesses, including gin, and also coffee, admitting to talkSPORT that five espressos a day is part of a routine that keeps him in tip top shape.
“I love training. I’ve always loved sports,” he explained. “For some people who dislike sports and training, it’s more difficult to maintain or increase fitness. But for me, I just really enjoy it. So it’s a good thing for me.”
Such heroics make him an attractive proposition for any team in 2026, and both Bottas and new arrivals Cadillac appeared to be flirting with each other at Silverstone as he echoed the words of CEO Dan Towriss that experience is their main criteria for next year’s drivers.
“There are still many paid drivers, for sure. But I think there’s still space for drivers without money,” the Finn said.
“For me at the moment, my strong point is my experience. Being racing in three different teams, especially racing here [at Mercedes].
“So that’s always going to be my strength. And there will always be teams that will need that experience.
Bottas’ experience is exactly what Cadillac are looking for, but they may have competition from Alpine too“I hope that there’s still space for me. I think the next month or so will be quite interesting for me to figure out what’s really happening.”
There’s also the legacy on the line too, with Bottas off the grid for 2025 – this was the first time in 36 years without a Finn on the grid.
Only Britain, Brazil, Germany and Argentina have provided more drivers’ world championships than Finland’s four, and Bottas is keen to make this year an exception.
“I think the Finns would be happy to see a driver again,” he said. “Hopefully start another streak of many years in this sport.
“I started go-karting races when I was six. And for me it was just always about Formula 1. That was always the target. And I think that’s because I was following Mika Hakkinen and his career in the 90s.
“So that was a big motivation for me. I think because we’ve always had the heroes that motivate the kids. I think that’s been a big factor.
Two-time champion Hakkinen inspires Bottas, who’s now inspiring fans to be themselvesGetty“And it’s always been a part of the culture. Motorsports, any kind of motorsports like motocross, rally, single-seaters. It’s always been popular in Finland. A bit like in the UK, it’s just in the blood of the people.”
It’s certainly in Bottas’ blood too, and should we see him back in F1 next year, it won’t just be Hamilton who’s over the moon.
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