There’s a “very high possibility” Valtteri Bottas will move to Australia and race in Supercars, the Finnish cult hero has revealed.
With a luscious mullet and a filthy mo, Bottas has become an adopted Aussie, having spent significant time Down Under since he started dating his long-term partner, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell in 2020.
After 12 years on the F1 grid, Bottas has taken a step back for 2025, re-joining Mercedes as a reserve driver after three difficult years at Sauber.
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It will mean he still travels to every race, just in case, but doesn’t have to maintain the same preparation he might otherwise.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports at the Race of Champions, Bottas opened up on the likelihood of moving to Australia when he retires from Formula 1, and his desire to race in the Bathurst 1000.
Valtteri Bottas has expressed a desire to move to Australia and race Supercars. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“It’s difficult now, I’m still going to all of the races, but one day there’s a very high possibility for (moving to Australia),” he said.
“I’m definitely open (to Supercars and Bathurst), so let’s see later in the years how free my weekends are looking – you never know.
“At least ideally, I’d like to do a test soon and then we’ll see. But it’s on my list.”
While Bottas is on paper available for both The Bend 500 and Bathurst 1000 – they fall in off-weeks on the F1 calendar – it’s unlikely he would be allowed to take part.
Since meeting Cromwell, he’s taken up cycling much more seriously and spent several off-seasons here competing in various road races.
Valtteri Bottas on his way to victory for Mercedes in the 2019 Australian Grand Prix. AAP
But before his massive personality emerged, he had been the typical Finnish racing driver – quiet, straight-edged, focused on the job.
Once he broke free from the corporate shackles of Mercedes, he grew the mullet and the mo, and released a calender exclusively of nude photos. They were tasteful, of course.
But he became known among fans as Valtteri Hot-ass.
Alongside Cromwell, he fully embraced the Australian culture, and became an honourary Australian.
In fact, ahead of last year’s Australian Grand Prix, organisers featured him on billboards, flags and other advertising as prominently as Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri.
On paper, Finns and Aussies don’t have a lot in common. But he believes that’s exactly what fuels the connection.
“I think Finland and Australia is so opposite to each other – that’s why I like it,” he said.
“Finland is cold, dark, Australia is sunshine, warm.
“But one thing that connects is our sense of humour. It’s a very dry, sarcastic humour, which I like. The general lifestyle in Australia is great. I just love everything about it.”
While Mercedes is a particularly corporate brand – very German – at Sauber he was much more free to be himself.
“I think the changes in atmosphere, and actually in the contract having more flexibility to do other stuff and silly stuff as well,” he explained.
Valtteri Bottas and his partner, Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. Getty
“But age and experience, I learned to take the piss out of myself.”
His reserve driver role for 2025 has allowed him a much more relaxed off season. Comparatively, anyway. He’s still cycling, he’s still super fit.
Last weekend’s Race of Champions event in Sydney was Bottas’ first racing commitment since December’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After two nights in Sydney, he was on a plane to Adelaide first thing Sunday morning to take part in the Adelaide Motorsport Festival.
Despite missing out on a place on the grid for this season, Bottas hasn’t given up on the F1 dream and hopes to be back in 2026 – if not sooner.
“That’s why I’m still around … the good thing with this sport is you never know what’s going to happen. There are lots of new drivers and things can change quickly,” he said.
“I want to be there just in case.”
Bottas claimed all 10 of his grands prix victories with Mercedes, before spending three years at Sauber. He admitted it was “strange” to be back at Brackley.
“It’s nice to be with a team that I enjoyed five years of successful racing,” he said.
“There are still many, many familiar faces there – mainly engineers. The key people are all the same.
“It’s a bit strange – I never thought I would come back , but it’s nice.”
Naturally, the return to that corporate landscape of Mercedes means there’s no more nude calendars.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t get to have fun. He managed to get most of his gear off in a shoot for Budgy Smuggler.
“It’s OK – I’ll manage,” he quipped.