When Valtteri Bottas made his Formula 1 debut with the Williams F1 team in 2013, that was the official beginning of his professional racing career. A driver of Finnish origin, Bottas stayed with them up until the 2016 campaign when defending champion Nico Rosberg abruptly announced his retirement from the sport. Mercedes pounced on the chance and signed Bottas to race alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2017.
Bottas achieved three victories and 305 points in his first season with the Silver Arrows, earning him a commendable third place in the overall standings. He eventually won 10 races for the team throughout his time with them. Up until the 2021 season, Bottas significantly contributed to Mercedes winning five constructors’ championships.
Valtteri Bottas was never able to put up a fight against Hamilton’s steadfast efforts to win championships throughout their tenure together.
Another great one from us @WilliamsRacing 👍 thank you all for the support! We’ll keep pushing! #Hockenheim #2nd #77 pic.twitter.com/tfUXppb6yL
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) July 20, 2014
Bottas enjoyed a good tenure with Mercedes until deciding to leave after the 2021 campaign. He decided to race with Alfa Romeo beginning in the 2022 season, where he would team up with Zhou Guanyu.
Valtteri Bottas’ time at Mercedes
After replacing Nico Rosberg, the retiring World Champion, Valtteri Bottas joined the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One team in 2017. When the Finnish driver joined Mercedes, the team had just won three consecutive Constructors’ Championships and was expected to keep winning.
At the 2017 Russian Grand Prix, Bottas swiftly displayed his talent by winning his maiden Grand Prix with Mercedes. He went on to win two additional races that year and took third place in the Drivers’ Championship standings, helping Mercedes win the Constructors’ Championship for the fourth time in a row.
The Finn had a more difficult season in 2018, going without a victory and placing fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. He found it difficult to keep up with his teammate Hamilton’s speed and often served as the British driver’s reserve. Valtteri Bottas put out a genuine effort in the condensed 2020 season, taking home two victories and placing second in the overall standings, again to Hamilton.
After the 2021 season, Bottas left Mercedes for several reasons. First and foremost, the team wanted to move young British driver George Russell, who had impressed with his efforts for Williams, to a prominent team. Mercedes saw Russell as a potential sports sensation and wanted to give him the chance to drive for a top team. Russell’s performance in the Mercedes in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, where he replaced Hamilton, who had COVID-19 and came close to winning the race, only increased Mercedes’ faith in him.
#BREAKING Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas wins Formula 1 Rolex Turkish Grand Prix 2021
— ANADOLU AGENCY (@anadoluagency) October 10, 2021
Second, after five seasons with the club, Mercedes decided it was time for a move. Mercedes wanted to infuse the team with new life, and they believed Russell would do so by offering an original viewpoint and creative ideas.
Last but not least, despite not being awful, Bottas’ performance in 2021 fell short of what Mercedes expected of their drivers. Russell was thought to be the best candidate for the post since the team needed someone who could consistently push Hamilton and help them win the Constructors’ Championship.
Valtteri Bottas’ net worth
Valtteri Bottas has consistently demonstrated his exceptional talent and determination to succeed despite facing numerous challenges throughout his career, and his estimated net worth of $30 million is a testament to his success. Currently driving for Alfa Romeo, Bottas is reported to be earning a substantial annual salary of $11 million, which, although it may seem low, is a reflection of his still-developing status in the world of Formula 1.
I’m very happy and excited to let you know that I’ll be joining @alfaromeoracing @F1 team from 2022 with a multi year contract!
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) September 6, 2021
Press release: https://t.co/LL75ZWoHfA#VB77 #F1 @alfa_romeo #NewChapter #NeverGiveUp pic.twitter.com/1T3mdd80LI
Bottas has seen a significant increase in his net worth over the years, with his estimated worth in 2019 being around $16-18 million. Considering his remarkable performance, it is only fitting that Bottas be offered a salary commensurate with his abilities.
However, his 2021 contract with Alfa Romeo only allowed him to earn $11 million annually, which is substantially lower than the salary of his former Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who earned nearly five times as much.
If Bottas had stayed with Mercedes, his salary would likely have been significantly higher, but he chose to take his talents to Alfa Romeo, where he is determined to continue improving and making a name for himself in the fiercely competitive world of Formula 1.
Valtteri Bottas’ endorsements
The Finnish driver for Alfa Romeo has sponsorship contracts with several brands and is a Mercedes-Benz brand ambassador in Finland and is also sponsored by Arctic Blue, a brand that makes sunglasses. He also has endorsements from Konecranes, Polar, Bell & Ross, SMEG, Esso, and TIBCO. The driver has appeared in promotions and events, as well as advocated goods on social media, and attended events for these firms.
New car day 🤩#VB77 #GTblackseries @MercedesAMG pic.twitter.com/pcjLA7KiWv
— Valtteri Bottas (@ValtteriBottas) August 30, 2021
In the words of 7X WDC champion Lewis Hamilton, “Thank you Valtteri for all of your support and amazing contributions to this team. You will be missed. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Let’s finish off strong and get that 8th for the team.”
Bottas is one of the unsung heroes of the grid. What he achieved with Mercedes is instrumental to the Constructor’s success. He was often overshadowed by his teammate, Lewis Hamilton. He came 3rd in the WDC standings in 2017, 5th in 2018, 2nd in 2019, and 2020 and 3rd in 2021.