Bottas can be himself at Mercedes, just not in the nude anymore

18:01, 30 Apr

Updated: 19:57, 30 Apr

byLudo van Denderen

Valtteri Bottas is back in the fold at Mercedes. As the reserve driver for the German racing team, he feels at ease and is allowed all freedoms, although he now has to keep his pants on, as he explains in an interview with GPblog.

Anyone thinking that Valtteri Bottas' days are empty and boring, now that he is (temporarily?) no longer a permanent Formula 1 driver, is greatly mistaken. Working in the simulator for Mercedes and attending all the Grands Prix as the team's reserve mean that the Finn is still traveling the world.

In the paddock, Bottas can further delve into the technical side of the profession, as he shares during an exclusive conversation with GPblog. "It's a strong team, the engineering team, both race team and at the factory is really top end. The best that you can find in Formula 1.

"So there's always from the engineers and the technical side you can learn things. Between [the] last three years at Sauber and Mercedes there is a clear gap, and the sport keeps evolving, so for sure there's gonna be new things for me technically, that I will learn."

Bottas felt immediately at home at Mercedes

In any case, Bottas has once again found himself in the familiar, warm environment. The integration went very smoothly. "It was very easy. I just had to meet some few new people. But otherwise it's been super smooth. Almost like I never left. So that's been quite nice," says the ten-time Grand Prix winner.

"The team has got stronger. The factory has changed a little bit, not from the outside, but on the inside, in terms of the machinery and equipment. Everything's just a bit more refined. Similar thing in the race team, it feels, in terms of the personnel, I think some people have changed their role."

When Bottas originally moved to Sauber, he expressed relief at no longer being in the corporate straightjacket of Mercedes. It's precisely to this environment he now returns, although it shouldn't be made out to be more than it is. "Toto (Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal, ed.) and the team overall made it very clear that I can be who I am," Bottas explains.

"It's nice to keep things fun and they're not gonna restrict a lot of things, only maybe some nudity on social media which is fair enough when you're talking about a big brand, but that's fine. Otherwise nothing really changes and I can do things with my way."

More time for Bottas' second love

One of the things Bottas now has a bit more time for, now that he's no longer a full-time F1 driver, is his second passion: cycling. "Yeah for sure [I] will have a bit more time to ride my bike which is kind of a bonus," says the Finn.

"Every year I want to improve. I want to always get better and better and stronger on the bike, and hopefully do well in some events. I'll be doing some gravel events for sure this year, and I really enjoy it."

And who knows, he might also make an appearance in a four-wheel race in 2025. "If by the halfway of the season I feel like that's not enough of driving, I could do one-off races here and there, but let's see."