Valtteri Bottas: The Ultimate Number Two

In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most quietly successful careers of the modern era: Valtteri Bottas. Because Bottas is one of those drivers history might undersell. But the numbers don’t. 10 wins. 67 podiums. 20 pole positions. Multiple runner-up finishes in the World Championship. That’s not average. That’s elite. David and Skin rewind to the early days. Back-to-back Formula Renault Eurocup champion. Dominant junior reputation. Signed by Williams for 2013. And no — he didn’t jump straight from F3 to F1. He spent 2012 as a Williams test driver before racing full-time in 2013. By 2014? He finished 4th in the Drivers’ Championship… in a Williams. In the first year of the turbo-hybrid era. That wasn’t luck. That was consistency and ruthless podium collecting. Then came the big moment. Nico Rosberg retires. Mercedes need a replacement. Bottas gets the call. He walks into the most dominant car era… next to Lewis Hamilton. And here’s the thing. 2018 wasn’t “bad” — it was brutal circumstance. The Mercedes was good, yes, but Hamilton hit another level, and Bottas had multiple wins slip through strategy calls and late-race incidents. He finished winless, but not slow. Then 2019 and 2020? Runner-up in the championship twice. He proved the pace was real. He just lived his prime next to a seven-time champion. After Mercedes, he moved to Sauber/Alfa Romeo, becoming a pillar for the Audi transition — steady, professional, consistent. The Audi dream project shifted direction heading into 2026, and Bottas wasn’t retained for the race seat as the long-term reset accelerated. Off track? The “BottASS” charity campaign completely flipped his public image. Leaning into humour, cycling culture, and personality — a reminder that the quiet Finn had layers. We break down what defines Bottas: Elite one-lap speed Structured, methodical race craft Team-first mentality Mental toughness from being Hamilton’s teammate The big question? Does he get a late-career return — or is the legacy already complete? Best case? Surprise comeback in a mentoring role for a developing project. Worst case? Career fades without a farewell. Most likely? Remembered as one of the most successful supporting drivers of the hybrid era — the calm enabler behind a championship dynasty. He wasn’t slow. He was just racing one of the greatest of all time. Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.