Valtteri Bottas achieved his greatest success in Formula 1 with Mercedes but was replaced in 2022 by rising talent George Russell. He then moved to Sauber (then Alfa Romeo), where the Finnish driver discovered a new side to his career. Bottas played a key role in the team and enjoyed racing more than ever before. 2024 marked his final year with the outfit. In 2026, Bottas will make his comeback to Formula 1 as a Cadillac driver, alongside Sergio Perez.

Like many Finnish F1 drivers before him, Bottas built his reputation through calm and consistent success. His 2009 Formula 3 season ended in disappointment, but he capped it with victories in the Masters of Formula 3 at Zandvoort in both 2009 and 2010. This caught the attention of Williams, who offered him a role as a test driver.

At the same time, Bottas raced in other series, including GP3 with ART, where he clinched the title. In 2013, he made his Formula 1 debut with Williams.

Alongside Pastor Maldonado, Bottas proved to be the stronger driver, finishing ahead of his teammate in his rookie season. A year later, Felipe Massa replaced Maldonado, and Bottas began collecting podiums. In 2014, he finished fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.

Williams remained competitive in the following years, with Bottas and veteran Massa posing a challenge in their Mercedes-powered cars. However, 2016 brought disappointment, and Williams’ decline became evident. Bottas, however, was handed an unexpected lifeline by Mercedes.

When Nico Rosberg won the 2016 title and immediately retired, Mercedes turned to Bottas as his replacement, following recommendations from Toto Wolff’s management team.

In his first season, Bottas impressed with three victories and a third-place finish in the championship, suggesting he could compete on equal terms with Lewis Hamilton. But it soon became clear that wasn’t the case. Bottas was repeatedly instructed over team radio to let Hamilton pass, most notably at the Russian Grand Prix, where he was denied a win.

In 2019, Bottas returned strongly with what became known as “Bottas 2.0” and the slogan “Fear the Beard” after his dominant win in Melbourne. His Mercedes contract was renewed, but Hamilton again easily beat him to the title. The same story unfolded in 2020, with Hamilton even more dominant, while Max Verstappen pushed Bottas close.

By 2021, Bottas entered his fifth season with Mercedes under increasing pressure to deliver. With Verstappen and Red Bull mounting a serious title challenge, Bottas could not convince the team. Despite finishing third in the standings, he disappointed at crucial moments, and Mercedes decided mid-season to replace him with George Russell for 2022.

Bottas moved to Alfa Romeo, joining rookie Guanyu Zhou. Though it appeared a step back, Bottas thrived in an environment where his input was valued, and he wasn’t forced to play second fiddle. He helped the team to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship, a major step forward. From 2024, the team rebranded as Stake Sauber before transitioning to Audi in 2026.

As part of its transformation into Audi, Sauber announced major changes in 2024. Andreas Seidl departed, and Mattia Binotto and Jonathan Wheatley were appointed as the new leadership duo. The team also opted for a fresh driver line-up. Nico Hulkenberg was the first to be announced, while the second seat went to young talent Gabriel Bortoleto, who joined Sauber in 2025 after leaving McLaren. Bottas, in turn, returned to the Mercedes family, taking on the role of reserve driver.

In August, Cadillac confirmed its line-up for the team’s debut season in 2026: Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Both drivers had been linked with the American project before. Their combined experience as former Red Bull and Mercedes drivers will provide Cadillac with a strong foundation in Formula 1.