Valtteri Bottas: Career, Salary, and Life After Mercedes

If you know Valtteri Bottas only as the quiet wingman to Lewis Hamilton, there’s a whole other side to the Finn that’s worth discovering. Bottas has built a career that spans Formula 1 podiums, a winery in his native Finland, and even a qualification for the UCI Gravel World Championships — all while keeping his trademark mullet intact, and here’s the full story of a driver who refuses to be boxed in.

Age: 35 ·
F1 Wins: 10 ·
Current Team: Cadillac F1 Team ·
Net Worth: Estimated $10 million ·
Relationship: Tiffany Cromwell (since 2019)

Eight key facts at a glance, one pattern: Bottas is a driver who has excelled on track while building a parallel life off it.

What happened to Valtteri Bottas?

Bottas made his Formula 1 debut with Williams in 2013, scoring his first points in his second race. After a strong few seasons, he joined Mercedes-AMG Petronas in 2017 to replace the retiring Nico Rosberg. Over five seasons with the Silver Arrows, Bottas won 10 Grands Prix and secured 20 pole positions, playing a key role in Mercedes’ constructors’ championships (Wikipedia (comprehensive biography)).

What team did Valtteri Bottas drive for at Mercedes?

Bottas drove for the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team from 2017 through 2021. He was Lewis Hamilton’s teammate during that period and helped the team win four consecutive constructors’ titles. His best championship finish was second in 2019 and 2020.

How many wins does Valtteri Bottas have?

Bottas has 10 Grand Prix wins, all of which came during his time at Mercedes. His first win came at the 2017 Russian Grand Prix, and his last was at the 2021 Turkish Grand Prix.

How old is Valtteri Bottas?

Valtteri Bottas was born on 28 August 1989, making him 35 years old.

How tall is Valtteri Bottas?

Bottas is 1.73 meters tall (5 feet 8 inches).

Why does Valtteri Bottas have a mullet?

The mullet became Bottas’ trademark style in 2022 after he left Mercedes. In an interview, Bottas said the haircut is part of his new, more relaxed personality and that he’s embraced a “party mode” since joining Alfa Romeo (Crash.net (F1 news outlet)).

The implication: Bottas’ career arc shows a driver who evolved from a promising rookie into a reliable number two, then reinvented himself as a team leader with a distinctive personal brand.

Why did Mercedes sack Bottas?

Bottas was not sacked but rather not renewed after his contract year in 2021. Mercedes opted to promote George Russell from Williams for the 2022 season, ending Bottas’ five-year tenure with the team. The decision was driven by a desire for fresh talent and a long-term investment in Russell (Wikipedia (comprehensive biography)). What this means: Bottas handled the transition professionally, but it marked the end of his championship-contending years. He moved to Alfa Romeo (now Cadillac) where he has been the de facto team leader.

Why did Valtteri Bottas split with his wife?

Bottas was married to Finnish swimmer Emilia Pikkarainen from 2016 to 2019. The split was not publicly detailed, but it was confirmed that they separated in 2019. Shortly after, Bottas began dating Australian cyclist Tiffany Cromwell (Wikipedia (comprehensive biography)).

How long have Valtteri Bottas and Tiffany Cromwell been together?

Bottas and Cromwell have been together since 2019 — over six years. They live part-time in Monaco and part-time in Australia, where Cromwell is based. The relationship has had a major influence on Bottas’ cycling passion.

The pattern: Bottas’ personal life reshaped his professional identity. He went from a reserved F1 driver to a lifestyle entrepreneur with wine, gin, and coffee brands, all sparked by the move away from Mercedes and the relationship with Cromwell.

Are Hamilton and Bottas friends?

Hamilton and Bottas were teammates at Mercedes from 2017 to 2021. They had a professional relationship with mutual respect, and Bottas has spoken positively about Hamilton’s skill. They have been seen socializing outside of F1, including attending events together, but their relationship is best described as collegial rather than close friends (Wikipedia (comprehensive biography)). Why this matters: The Bottas-Hamilton dynamic is often cited as one of the healthiest teammate pairings in F1, especially compared to the tense rivalries at Red Bull and Ferrari. Bottas’ willingness to play the team game made him a valued asset at Mercedes.

What is Valtteri Bottas’ salary?

Bottas’ salary at Cadillac is estimated at $10 million per year, according to various reports. His net worth is estimated at around $10 million (Wikipedia (comprehensive biography)).

Which winery does Valtteri Bottas own?

Bottas owns a wine brand called Ihana, which means “lovely” in Finnish. He also launched a gin brand called Oath and holds a 20% stake in Kahiwa Coffee, a roastery in his hometown of Lahti (Crash.net (F1 news outlet)).

Does Valtteri Bottas live in Australia?

Bottas splits his time between Monaco and Australia, where his partner Tiffany Cromwell lives. He has a home in Adelaide and spends significant time there during the F1 off-season.

Where does Valtteri Bottas love?

Beyond the obvious — racing — Bottas is passionate about cycling, especially gravel racing. He co-founded FNLD GRVL, a gravel cycling event in Lahti, Finland, and has said outside of motorsport, cycling is the number one thing that comes to mind (Crash.net (F1 news outlet)).

The trade-off: Bottas’ off-track empire — wine, gin, coffee, cycling events — is impressive, but it raises the question of whether he has fully committed to his F1 career. At 35, with a Cadillac seat that may not be competitive at the front, Bottas is already building the post-F1 life that few drivers plan for.

Timeline

• 28 August 1989 — Born in Nastola, Finland (Wikipedia)
• 2013 — F1 debut with Williams (Wikipedia)
• 2016 — Married Emilia Pikkarainen (Wikipedia)
• 2017 — Joined Mercedes-AMG Petronas (Wikipedia)
• 2019 — Split with wife; began dating Tiffany Cromwell (Wikipedia)
• 2021 — Last season at Mercedes (Wikipedia)
• 2022 — Moved to Alfa Romeo (later Sauber/Cadillac) (Wikipedia)
• 2025 — Drives for Cadillac F1 Team (Wikipedia)

This timeline underscores Bottas’ steady progression from a promising rookie to a team leader with a multifaceted life outside racing.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

While many key facts are verified, some details remain private or subject to interpretation.

Quotes from the paddock

“I think outside of motorsport, cycling is the number one thing that comes to mind. I like both road and gravel racing, but gravel racing feels a bit more relaxed — you can even have a beer during the race.”

— Valtteri Bottas, in an interview with Crash.net (F1 news outlet)

“We wanted to give George Russell the opportunity. It was a difficult decision because Valtteri has been a fantastic team player, but we felt the time was right for a change.”

— Toto Wolff, Mercedes team principal, as reported by Wikipedia (comprehensive biography)

“My initial motivation to ride more was to keep up with Tiffany. She’s a professional cyclist, so I had to step up my game.”

— Valtteri Bottas, in an interview with RDS (Canadian sports broadcaster)

“I take bike racing seriously. I’ve competed in SBT Gravel and the Belgium Waffle Ride, and I finished mid-pack at the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships.”

— Valtteri Bottas, quoted by Canyon (bicycle manufacturer)

For the F1 fan who only knows Bottas as the quiet Finn in the Mercedes, the evidence is clear: he’s built a life that’s anything but quiet. The question now is whether his next chapter — whether in F1 or beyond — will be as memorable as the one he’s already written.

Related reading: **Geraint Thomas: Net Worth, Retirement, and Life After Cycling**

Frequently asked questions

These answers give a quick reference for the most common questions about Bottas.

For the Finnish motorsport fan or the gravel cycling enthusiast, the choice is clear: Bottas is a rare athlete who has successfully built a dual identity. Whether he continues in F1 or pivots fully to his entrepreneurial and cycling ventures, his legacy as a ten-time Grand Prix winner who also qualified for the UCI Gravel World Championships is already secure.