Valtteri Bottas: A Storied F1 Career and Future Prospects
Image Credit: Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool
Valtteri Bottas has had a solid career in Formula One and often doesn’t get the credit he deserves. The Finnish driver gets overlooked because he hasn’t been allowed to deliver fantastic results over the past couple of seasons. Bottas is a driver who, when given the right machinery, can compete at the highest level. So it’s only right that people in the sport give him the credit he deserves.
The Career of Valtteri Bottas
Since 2013, Bottas has been a mainstay in the pinnacle of motorsport and has had some tremendous results throughout his storied career. Williams was the team that brought him into F1, and he performed very well for them, being a reliable points scorer and achieving podiums for the historic outfit. However, 2017 marked a big year for him as title-winning team Mercedes brought him into the fold. The move led Bottas to achieve 10 race wins and contribute to the majority of his 67 podiums. Even though he had moments in the car, he could not capture the world title, which is seen as a missed opportunity. However, one must remember that he was up against Sir Lewis Hamilton, which would have been difficult for anybody. In 2019, Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo, where, after a promising start, the team hasn’t been able to capitalise and has dropped down the grid since he joined.
His Skills
Bottas is an excellent driver who performs well under pressure, and one must have some elite talent to achieve the number of race wins he has secured. Where the 34-year-old shines is on a Saturday, when he can produce some fantastic results in qualifying. Furthermore, his consistency level is impressive, as he rarely missed out on Q3 when he was with Mercedes. Bottas has a wealth of experience, and with him being only 34, drivers such as Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have suggested that he could have a lot left in the tank. A driver of his quality deserves to be on the grid, but with spaces running out, it will be interesting to see if he can secure a drive for 2025 and beyond.
The Future
There are still some options for Bottas in terms of seats. Of course, there is always the chance that Sauber will re-sign him, but with Audi entering the fold in 2026, he could be a favourite to take that drive. There is also an opening at Alpine, which may be interested in signing a driver like Bottas to partner with Pierre Gasly. Even though this option is unlikely, there is a potential open seat at RB, which has shown recently that they are willing to take older drivers. Furthermore, if Sergio Pérez doesn’t perform well in the coming races, Red Bull may be looking for a consistent teammate to partner with Verstappen, and Bottas has shown that he can thrive in this role.
Bottas is a great driver, and seeing where he ends up will be fascinating.
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