Valterri Bottas: F1 star on Bathurst, mullets and life as an honorary Australian

Formula 1 star and honorary Aussie Valtteri Bottas has revealed he wants to one day have a crack at the Bathurst 1000 and has outlined his F1 plans for the future.

Formula 1 star and honorary Aussie Valtteri Bottas wants to one day have a crack at the Bathurst 1000 and has outlined his F1 plans for the future.

Opening up on his racing priorities before this weekend’s Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, the Sauber driver said tackling Mount Panorama was on his “bucket list”.

The Finnish star has developed a reputation as an unofficial Aussie thanks to his Australian connection through his partner, cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, and the shock-blond mullet hairstyle he has adopted.

Now the former Australian Grand Prix winner hopes to take on the country’s most famous car race.

Valtteri Bottas declared his interest in competing at the Bathurst 1000. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I would one day (love to race the Bathurst 1000), it looks great,” Bottas said.

“I’ve never been to the track, I’ve only seen some video clips and stuff, but it looks great.

“So one day, for sure, bucket list things.”

It could be some time before Bottas gets the chance to take on the Supercars 1000km classic as the 34-year-old said he hoped to keep racing in F1 for “many years to come”,

and the demands of the F1 calendar would make it impossible.

Bottas is in the final year of his contract with Sauber but wants to remain with the team in the long-term.

Sauber is set to become the Audi works team from 2026, an “exciting” future Bottas wants to be involved in.

“That’s exciting because the team has a clear plan and the long-term future is sorted,” Bottas said.

Valtteri Bottasdriving the (77) Kick Sauber C44 Ferrari on track during the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain. Picture: Getty Images

“When a manufacturer enters a sport like this, that is always exciting.

“For me, it would be ideal to stick with the team and stay for long-term and that way get back to podiums and wins one day, so that’s my goal now.

“I have my priorities and that is up there. For some reason if that is not meant to be, I think in the drivers’ market there will be opportunities.

“It is still a bit too early to say more than that, so let’s wait for a few more races and I’m sure things will start moving.”

Asked how long he wanted to race in F1, Bottas said he was not setting “any limit”.

Uber Carshare has partnered with honorary Aussie Valtteri Bottas to create the perfect car for an Aussie road trip. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I’m now 34 years old and if you look at drivers like Fernando Alonso), he is still performing great,” Bottas said at an event for Uber Carshare.

“So I have no number but many years to come.

“My motivation why I am sticking around is to try and get back to podiums and wins and that’s what I want to do.”

Bottas said it had been a difficult start to the year for himself and Sauber, finishing 19th and 17th in the opening two races of the season in Bahrain – when pit stop issues affected his prospects – and Saudi Arabia.

But the 2019 Albert Park race winner hoped for more success at a race he considered to be like a “home” grand prix.

Valtteri Bottas will keep driving until he’s no longer motivated. Picture: Getty Images

“So there is much more potential in this new car and we already have new parts for this race and also the next one, so there is a clear plan to get on top of the issues that we have had and also with the pit stop issues we should now be in a better place.

“It’s always a great highlight of the year to come here (Australia), so with the past success that I had here a few years ago it is still a special place and as a country as well. So, I’m feeling good.”

Valtteri Bottas is open to the idea of living in Australia, but permanent plans may have to wait until after his F1 career winds down. Picture: Getty Images

Bottas said he could one day see himself living in Australia but it would be hard while he was still racing in F1.

“While (I’m) still active in Formula 1, it’s maybe a bit far for most of the races to travel to, but eventually I think that has to happen at some point,” Bottas said.

“My partner introduced me in more detail to the country and I learned much more about the culture but I just really like the lifestyle.

“People are not afraid to joke about themselves and not take themselves too seriously, great sense of humour. Great weather, mostly, and good food.

“For me, everything is awesome and it’s also such a big country that I still have so much more to see and explore.”