Valtteri Bottas Unfiltered: From F1 to Flat Whites, Embracing Life Beyond the Track

Exclusive Interview with Valtteri Bottas: Discussing His Mullet, Personality, and Love for Coffee

Lewis Larkam from Crash.net had an exclusive chat with Valtteri Bottas.

Social media influencer. Coffee lover. Entrepreneur. Valtteri Bottas is far more than just a Formula 1 driver with 10 grand prix victories.

Over the past few years, the 34-year-old Finn has opened up, letting his true character emerge and adopting a carefree attitude. He has stopped taking himself too seriously and is now relishing life to the fullest.

The Sauber driver might not know what his future holds in F1 after this season, but he has never felt more self-assured. He is content, confident, and at ease.

Although Formula 1 continues to be a major focus for Bottas, he has discovered new interests outside of racing, such as cycling.

Bottas shared with Crash.net that when he's not engaged in his sport, cycling is the first activity that comes to his mind.

“I’m really into cycling, including both road and gravel racing. I’m quite an enthusiastic cyclist, so it’s probably my next favorite sport after Formula 1.”

His newfound affection was ignited by his partner, Tiffany Cromwell, who is a professional cyclist from Australia.

“At first, I was motivated to train just to keep pace with her,” Bottas says with a chuckle. “Now, I’m able to stay with her in most environments.”

"I've realized how captivating this sport can be, as you are the driving force behind it. Experiencing your own progress becomes highly engaging."

What does an ideal day for Bottas look like when he's not zooming around at 320 kilometers per hour in his Formula 1 car?

"I usually sleep in and wake up around 9:30 or 10 in the morning," he mentions. "I start my day with a quality coffee and a hearty breakfast, typically including eggs and avocado toast, followed by an enjoyable bike ride."

"The remainder of the afternoon is spent in the sauna, followed by a delicious dinner."

He mentions that his usual indulgence meal is quite typical, often involving either a "well-made homemade burger with fries" or pizza.

Check out this Instagram post shared by Valtteri Bottas (@valtteribottas).

Showcasing his distinct character and signature appearance

Bottas has been a standout driver in recent years due to his unique personality. At the Australian Grand Prix last year, he made an entrance in the Melbourne paddock wearing a tank top and flip flops.

This aspect of Bottas' character was hidden during his tenure with Mercedes. When Bottas joined the team, Mercedes was at the peak of its success, but he soon ended up in a secondary position, assisting his teammate Lewis Hamilton in his championship pursuits. Additionally, he faced uncertainty with his future at the team as his contracts were renewed on an annual basis.

During his tenure with Mercedes, Bottas experienced his peak performance, securing 10 race victories, 20 pole positions, four top-three finishes in the championship, and contributing to the team's five straight constructors' titles. However, the relentless competition at the front and being relegated to a supporting role eventually wore him down.

When Bottas lost his position at Mercedes to George Russell for the 2022 season, it paved the way for him to join Alfa Romeo, currently known as Sauber. This move provided Bottas with the long-term stability he had been looking for. Since transitioning to the Swiss team, there has been a significant shift in Bottas' mindset and strategy.

"It didn't happen all at once. It gradually began. I believe it was due to a new environment and having a different partner," Bottas responds when questioned about when he stopped caring about others' opinions of him.

"For the first time, there's a sense of stability in the sport. Additionally, there's a greater level of maturity, with a better grasp of how the world and Formula 1 operate."

"I’ve begun to feel more at ease with who I am and let myself joke around and enjoy things more."

"Realizing that not everything in life needs to be taken too seriously, I grew more self-assured and at ease with who I am, finding joy in simply having a good laugh."

Valtteri Bottas’ adoption of an Australian persona includes his distinctive mullet, a hairstyle he started wearing towards the close of 2022. He’s thoroughly enjoying the "mullet life" and has no intention of altering it.

"It started off as a bit of a joke," he says. "In 2022, my hair had grown quite long since it was the end of the season and I hadn't found the time to visit a barbershop."

I made a joke to Tiffany, saying, “When we return to Australia, I’m going to cut my hair into a mullet.” She responded skeptically, saying, “Yeah, right.” But I went ahead and made an appointment. I knew a local videographer, so I suggested, “Let’s see if this could be entertaining—come and record it.”

"It gained widespread attention and then remained popular. That's when I realized that the combination of a mullet and a moustache was actually quite stylish. It felt distinctly Australian, almost like a signature look."

Bottas has taken to social media and appeared in humorous commercials, activities he didn't feel confident doing during his time with Mercedes. Earlier this year, he filmed an amusing advertisement for Uber, playfully claiming he should win an Oscar for his performance, which fans greatly enjoyed.

"I handle all my social media personally, and if something amusing occurs, I simply share it. People enjoy everyday, humorous content," he explains.

"Certain tasks were clearly handled by different firms. Take, for instance, the Uber car-sharing commercial; that was their script. But when I reviewed it and they inquired, 'Are you interested in this?' I enthusiastically responded, 'Absolutely! This seems enjoyable.'"

"Most things aren't meticulously arranged. Usually, events simply unfold for me, and that's what makes it enjoyable."

Valtteri Bottas isn't shy about being open with the public. This was notably clear when he posted a photo of himself swimming in a river in Aspen during a vacation in May 2022, with his bare backside visible above the water.

The post gained widespread attention, and Bottas leveraged this visibility to benefit charity, generating more than $50,000 by selling prints of the picture. This success later led to the creation of a nude calendar, which raised over $150,000 for the men’s health organization Movember through sales on the website ‘www.bottass.com’.

Check out this Instagram post shared by Valtteri Bottas (@valtteribottas).

Bottas ventures into entrepreneurship

Bottas has delved into the business sector by investing in three of his greatest interests beyond the racetrack: coffee, gin, and wine. He holds a 20 percent share in Kahiwa coffee, a hometown roastery in Lahti, and has introduced his own wine brand called Ihana and a gin brand named Oath.

"It's been quite a journey," Bottas remarks about his entrepreneurial efforts. "Some projects are progressing at a slower pace compared to others. However, most of my investments are driven by passion, and while I aim to avoid financial losses, the goal is to eventually turn a profit."

“But it’s more about having a passion. That’s what makes it enjoyable to be involved in projects that genuinely interest you. So, it’s quite good. It’s a solid foundation for when racing eventually comes to an end. Everything should be going smoothly by then.

"Whether I'm drinking coffee or gin, I have some control over how much work I take on. Naturally, it's tougher to manage during the season," he remarks.

"I have assistance with those tasks, allowing me the flexibility to decide when I want to tackle other projects. I can dedicate my attention fully when needed, but I also have the option to set them aside for several weeks since I have people supporting me."

Kahiwa continues to operate from Finland while offering international shipping. Bottas emphasizes the importance of beginning with modest steps and steering clear of what he refers to as "rash decisions."

He explains that they have an online store which allows them to sell products globally, and that their sales have been increasing each year. While they aim to grow further, they are cautious about making hasty decisions and have a strategic plan in place.

"We recently acquired a larger coffee roaster, allowing us to increase our roasting capacity. Previously, we faced limitations on the volume we could roast. We're making gradual progress in that area."

According to Bottas, a cup of coffee must be flawless. He kicks off his mornings with a flat white and then switches to espresso. Although he has experimented with latte art, he admits that this writer’s attempts might surpass his own when shown the writer’s work.

Despite the uncertainty about his future and the limited number of available F1 seats for 2025, Bottas remains adamant that his career in Formula 1 is not nearing its end. He has no intention of retiring in the near future and dismissed the idea that his entrepreneurial ventures are a form of 'retirement planning'.

He expresses confidence that when his racing career ends, he will not feel a void. He mentions having activities to occupy his time, but clarifies that his primary motivation is his genuine interest in pursuing them.

"As with any sport, it's important to have a plan for what to focus on once the season is over. However, that time hasn't come just yet."

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