Valtteri Bottas Reflects on Career-Defining 2019 Australian GP Win: ‘I Still Get Goosebumps

Valtteri Bottas looks back on the most memorable moment of his F1 career that continues to give him "goosebumps."

"I still feel goosebumps," he remarked.

Valtteri Bottas describes his victory at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix as the peak moment of his Formula 1 career, a memory that still gives him chills.

Mercedes signed the Finnish driver after his three-year stint with Williams to take over for Nico Rosberg, who unexpectedly retired from Formula 1 right after winning the 2016 world championship.

In 2017, with Toto Wolff, the Mercedes team principal, overseeing his career, Valtteri Bottas secured three victories during his remarkable debut season as Lewis Hamilton's teammate.

However, his 2018 season ended without any victories, while Hamilton secured another championship, putting Bottas under scrutiny at the outset of the 2019 season.

Bottas shared with formula1.com that the previous year with Mercedes had been his toughest yet, leaving him with a significant amount of frustration.

"In 2018, I didn't secure any victories. Although I achieved several podium finishes and had some strong performances, I couldn't clinch a win."

"I was determined to ensure it wouldn't occur another time."

"I aimed to make a strong return, and I believe that’s exactly what occurred in 2019, which turned out to be my most successful year in Formula 1 to date."

At the start of the 2019 season, Bottas came close to securing the pole position in Australia, just falling short to Hamilton. However, he quickly took the lead at the start of the race and delivered a dominant performance

At the finish line, Bottas crossed 20.886 seconds ahead of Hamilton, clinching his fourth Formula 1 win.

The victory stirred so much emotion that the typically composed Bottas exclaimed over the radio during his return lap to the pits: "To whom it may concern, f**k you…"

“The weekend started off pretty typically,” Sauber driver Bottas commented.

During the qualifying session, Lewis indeed had an advantage, but it wasn't by a significant amount.

During the race, I secured a strong start and took the lead early on. From the first turn all the way to the finish line, I maintained my position at the front. I ultimately achieved victory by effectively managing my pace, eventually widening the gap significantly.

As a driver and athlete, you constantly seek that state of flow where you feel completely in command.

"It feels as though time decelerates, making everything seem effortless. You have ample opportunity to respond and contemplate, and that sense persisted throughout the entire race."

"Occasionally, you might experience an ideal sensation during qualifying or throughout the entire race. However, I would estimate that this happens in less than 20% of your qualifyings or races when you reach your optimal mental performance."

"It was an incredible experience and it still gives me chills. I genuinely believe that was the peak of my performance up to now."

That outcome served as a catalyst for Bottas’ most successful season in Formula 1.

That year, he secured three additional victories and only placed outside the top five on one occasion, finishing eighth in Hungary.

He finished the campaign in second place with 326 points, which was 87 points less than the world champion Hamilton.

During the 2024 summer break, Bottas finds himself at the bottom of the championship standings in what has been a dismal season for Sauber, with neither of their drivers managing to earn any points.

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