F1 cult figure Valtteri Bottas to finish driving career in Australia, but not at the Melbourne Grand Prix

One of F1’s most successful drivers, and ‘adopted Aussie’, Valtteri Bottas is set to cap off his racing career in Australia next year, just not where you’d possibly expect.

Valtteri Bottas will race one final time in Australia next season, but it won’t be at the Melbourne Grand Prix but rather the Race of Champions in Sydney a week earlier. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Formula One star and cult figure Valtteri Bottas will race one final time in Australia next season, but it won’t be at the Melbourne Grand Prix. It will be at the Race of Champions in Sydney a week earlier.

Bottas potentially has just two races remaining in his F1 career, with his time at Kick Sauber set to end after the Qatar and Abu Dhabi races over the next fortnight.

Valtteri Bottas will finish his career in Australia, but not at the event you’d expect. Picture: Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

With 10 wins and 67 podiums across his career Bottas is among the truly elite drivers to have raced in F1.

Considered an “adopted Aussie” because of his outrageous personality and Australian cycling girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell, Bottas is keen to race at Sydney’s Accor Stadium from March 7-8 against some of the world’s best motorsport stars, including his former F1 sparring partner Sebastian Vettel.

Bottas with girlfriend Tiffany Cromwell arriving in the F1 paddock ahead of qualifying for the recent F1 Grand Prix. Picture: Kym Illman/Getty Images

“My close relationship with Australia is no secret and I am really looking forward to competing in the first ever Race Of Champions Down Under,” Bottas said.

“Hopefully I will also have plenty of ‘local’ fans cheering for me after being granted ‘honorary Australian’ status earlier this year, even if I will of course try to beat Australia in the ROC Nations Cup and all the Aussies in the individual Race Of Champions.

“I am looking forward to spending some time in Australia across the ‘local’ summer months and should be well acclimatised by the time we get to the first week of March.

“The Race Of Champions is a unique event and I had a lot of fun in my first participation in Sweden last year, despite getting knocked out early with Mika (Hakkinen). Hopefully I’ll be much faster on the tarmac track inside Sydney’s Olympic stadium and be able to go all the way this time.”