Valtteri Bottas Relives 2019 Australian Grand Prix Victory: A Career Highlight That Still Gives Him ‘Goosebumps

Valtteri Bottas shares memorable moment from his F1 journey that continues to excite him

"It still sends shivers down my spine"

Valtteri Bottas describes his victory at the 2019 Australian Grand Prix as the pinnacle moment of his Formula 1 career, one that continues to elicit an emotional, skin-tingling reaction from him.

Mercedes secured the Finnish driver after his stint at Williams for three years, bringing him on board to fill the void left by Nico Rosberg's unexpected departure from F1 following his 2016 championship win.

In 2017, under the management of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, Bottas achieved three victories during his notable initial season alongside Lewis Hamilton as his teammate.

However, he then experienced a year without victories in 2018, as Hamilton comfortably secured another championship, placing Bottas in a challenging position at the beginning of the 2019 season.

"Reflecting on his time with Mercedes, Bottas admitted to formula1.com that the preceding year was notably challenging for him, leading to a considerable amount of frustration building up."

In 2018, I didn't manage to secure a victory in any race. Though I achieved several podium finishes and had a few strong performances, a win eluded me throughout the year.

"I was determined to prevent it from recurring."

"I aimed to make a significant comeback, and ultimately, I believe that's precisely what unfolded in 2019, turning out to be my most successful year in F1 to date."

At the start of the 2019 season, Bottas narrowly lost the pole position to Hamilton in Australia, yet he quickly took the lead at the start and delivered a dominant performance.

Crossing the finish line, Bottas finished 20.886 seconds ahead of Hamilton, clinching his fourth F1 win.

In that moment of victory, an ordinarily composed Bottas conveyed through the radio on his return lap to the pit lane: “For anyone it matters to, f**k you…”

"The start of the weekend proceeded as usual," Sauber's own driver Bottas mentioned.

During the qualifying round, Lewis managed to gain a slight advantage, though the lead was minimal.

During the competition, I secured a stronger initial position and quickly moved to the front. From the first turn all the way to the finish line, I maintained my lead. My victory was secured through effective management of the race, ultimately resulting in a significant lead by the end.

"As a motorist and a sports competitor, you're constantly seeking that zone of flow, a state where you sense complete mastery."

"Time seems to decelerate, creating a sensation that all tasks become manageable. There's ample opportunity to ponder and make decisions, and this feeling persisted throughout the entire race."

"In my view, there are occasions during qualifying or throughout an entire race when everything just clicks perfectly. However, I must admit, reaching the pinnacle of your mental capabilities happens in fewer than 20% of either qualifying sessions or races."

"The sensation was incredible, and it still sends shivers down my spine. I genuinely believe that was the pinnacle of my achievements to date, regarding my personal performance."

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

Throughout the remainder of the year, he secured three additional victories and only once did he place outside the top five – landing in eighth position during the Hungarian race.

He concluded the season as runner-up with a total of 326 points, falling 87 points short of the world champion, Hamilton.

During the summer break of 2024, Bottas finds himself at the bottom of the championship standings, marking a particularly disappointing season for Sauber, with both of its drivers failing to earn any points.

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