Valtteri Bottas

Born in Nastola, a small town in southern Finland where his father Rauno owns a cleaning company and his mother Marianne works as an undertaker — backgrounds about as far removed from Formula 1 glamour as it is possible to be — Valtteri Bottas made it to the pinnacle of the sport through natural pace, extraordinary resilience, and a work ethic that never asked for sympathy or attention. He rose through the British junior formulae and GP3 before joining Williams in 2013, developing methodically into a dependable front-midfield performer before Mercedes came calling in 2017 to replace the retired Nico Rosberg.

Five seasons alongside Lewis Hamilton produced ten race wins, 67 podiums, 20 pole positions, and five consecutive Constructors' Championship titles — but the Drivers' crown always narrowly eluded him, finishing second in 2019 and 2020. Seasons at Alfa Romeo and then Sauber followed before a 2025 absence from the grid as a Mercedes reserve driver. His signing by Cadillac for their 2026 Formula 1 debut — alongside Pérez — brought the paddock's most popular absentee back to where he belongs. He is now helping build an entirely new American project from its very foundations.

Fast, experienced, and — away from the car — the paddock's most unexpectedly hilarious and self-aware personality, Bottas knows exactly who he is and owns every word of it.