Valtteri Bottas Plans to Have a Long Career in Formula 1

Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish Formula 1 driver, has been in the sport for a decade now and has started 205 Grands Prix, making him one of the most experienced drivers on the current grid. He is currently racing for Alfa Romeo and his current contract is set to expire at the end of the 2024 season. However, Bottas is optimistic about his future in the sport and intends to remain a part of the grid for many years to come. 

In an interview with Tom Clarkson on the Beyond the Grid podcast, Bottas said that while there are many factors that could affect his decision, he still feels young compared to some and is more than happy to continue racing for quite a long time. He also mentioned that being part of a car manufacturer is almost necessary if you want to win in Formula 1, which makes it interesting for him to see what will happen when Audi takes over Alfa Romeo in 2026. 

Bottas also admitted that at some point, all the traveling involved in F1 might become too much for him and he might prefer to stay home instead of racing on another side of the globe. However, he still has many years left in him and is not ready to commit to anything just yet. 

The Finnish driver's career in F1 began in 2013 when he signed with Williams as a test driver. He was promoted to a race seat for the 2013 season and spent four seasons with the team before joining Mercedes in 2017 as a replacement for Nico Rosberg, who had just retired after winning the championship. Bottas played a crucial role in helping Mercedes win the Constructors' Championship in each of his five seasons with the team. 

Bottas has won 10 races in his career so far, with his most recent victory coming at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix. He has also achieved 67 podium finishes and 20 pole positions. Despite these impressive statistics, Bottas has often been overshadowed by his teammate Lewis Hamilton, who has won seven championships and is considered one of the greatest drivers in the sport's history. 

Bottas, however, remains unfazed by this and believes that he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level. He also mentioned that he has learned a lot from Hamilton during his time at Mercedes and that he will continue to apply those lessons in his future races. 

In addition to his racing career, Bottas is also known for his passion for rallying. He has participated in several rallies over the years and even won the Arctic Lapland Rally in 2019. He believes that rallying helps him improve his driving skills and gives him a chance to explore new challenges outside of F1. 

Overall, Bottas is optimistic about his future in Formula 1 and plans to remain a part of the grid for as long as possible. While he is not ready to commit to anything just yet, he believes that being part of a car manufacturer is almost necessary if you want to win in the sport and is interested to see what will happen when Audi takes over Alfa Romeo in 2026. For now, he remains focused on his current season with Alfa Romeo and hopes to achieve more success in the future.