Valtteri Bottas is all set for his post-retirement life. He has spent much of the past few years planning for the future and exploring off-track ventures and has decided what he will be doing after F1. In fact, he already has a few irons in the fire. But all this may not have happened had he not left Mercedes to join Sauber.
That’s because, following his passion, Bottas has entered the alcohol business. Together with his cyclist girlfriend, Tiffany Cromwell, Bottas manufactures gin at his own facility in Australia, marketed as Oath Gin. The country is also home to Ihana, his wine brand, which produces around 5,000 bottles a year.
Bottas believes his foray into the alcohol business was thanks to his joining Sauber in 2022. Compared to his previous employer, Mercedes, where he raced from 2017 to 2021, Sauber had fewer contractual restrictions.
Sauber is a much smaller outfit. It is also not a mass market car manufacturer, which means there are fewer implications for its brand image due to the actions of its drivers. Mercedes, on the other hand, represents something much bigger.
A part of the Daimler Group in F1, Mercedes is obligated to follow stricter rules. And this includes their drivers promoting external brands that do not align with the company’s image. “There’s always some kind of flexibility, but yeah, some things are just a no-go with big companies,” Bottas said on The Howie Games podcast.
“It’s [Sauber] not a car manufacturer. So I think obviously with certain things, much more freedom. So I could actually set up the gin company with my girlfriend, which I could not have before.”
Bottas, however, has now returned to Mercedes following his exit from Sauber at the end of the 2024 season. While he may not be a starting driver, his role as a reserve will involve ambassadorial duties for the Brackley-based outfit. So, will his alcohol ventures pose a problem?
He revealed that he had a conversation with Mercedes’ hierarchy before re-signing.
“Everyone at Mercedes, they’ve got to know me now. I’ve explained, okay, I’ve got this and this and this. What can I promote? What I can’t? What are the guidelines? And we’re on the same page,” Bottas added.
Liquor brands might not be the only thing frowned-upon at Mercedes. Bottas also sports an Aussie mullet—something that would have been a big no in the older F1 days for a team like Mercedes. Thankfully, that doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore, either.
Toto Wolff feels Bottas should keep the mullet
The last time Bottas was at Mercedes, he rarely experimented with his hair, sticking to a simple haircut. However, after joining Sauber, he embraced several lifestyle changes.
One of those changes was the mullet, which has since become a fan favorite, especially among Australian F1 supporters—and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff. When asked if Wolff had ever asked him to drop the mullet, Bottas replied, “He did say, ‘You can keep your mullet.’ And he said, ‘I actually kind of like it.’”
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The origins of Bottas’ mullet can be traced back to Australia’s influence on him. The Finn has often reiterated that he considers Australia his second home, spending much of his off-season there with Cromwell.
He also mentioned that Australia has helped him step out of his formerly reserved nature, making him far more outspoken. With the season opener set to take place in Melbourne, Bottas will likely be present in the paddock sporting Mercedes’ colors.
