Alfa Romeo star Valtteri Bottas has been racing in Formula 1 for 11 years. He has no plans for retirement just yet but the Finnish driver is always seen making steps to solidify his life post-retirement.
Bottas owns a coffee brand, and a beer brand and has invested in multiple other projects including his own gin brand as well. When asked about the reason behind doing such extensive planning for post-retirement life, Bottas explained that it is a distraction.
The Finnish driver has also invested in private jet companies and is convinced that through these steps his life would be easier after F1. Speaking to Motorsport Week, Bottas said, “It is important to have other things, other passions, to do after if your career.”
Valtteri Bottas finds time for his passion
The Finnish driver has not had an impressive start to his Formula 1 season. Bottas moved to the Alfa Romeo F1 team in the 2022 season from Mercedes as Williams; George Russell replaced him as Lewis Hamilton‘s teammate.
Ever since moving to the Swiss team, Bottas has been showing off a different version of himself. He is often seen spending time in Australia with his girlfriend, renowned cyclist Tiffany Cromwell.
In his interviews about the change from Mercedes to Alfa Romeo, Bottas has even revealed that he used to be quite stressed in the Mercedes F1 team. It seems that Bottas is not feeling too uncomfortable with the Swiss manufacturer as he is able to chase his passion.
He explained that people often ask him how he finds time to do these things. Bottas said, “But there is [time], we have off weeks, and even if we have simulator days or sponsors days between the races in the evenings we still have our personal time.”
Lewis Hamilton praises laid-back Bottas
Recently, Hamilton revealed that he is happy to see his former teammate less stressed than he used to be before. Bottas spent 5 years alongside Hamilton, competing with him and trying to beat him in the races. But he did not succeed the way he wanted to and that caused him a lot of frustration and mental distress.
But ever since leaving the Brackley camp, Bopttas is visibly more relaxed so much so that he entered the paddocks wearing flip-flops and a tank top. The Finnish driver said, “I don’t take myself too seriously.”
Looking at his former teammate, Hamilton said, it’s great. “It’s great to see him flourish and feel more a part of himself and know where he wants to go,” Hamilton added. “It’s cool that he’s got the things that he’s doing, I wish him all the best with it.”
