Valtteri Bottas has been rewarded for his flying start as a Mercedes driver with a one-year contract extension. The Finn has won two Grands Prix this year: Austria (pictured) and Russia.
Valtteri Bottas has been rewarded for his flying start as a Mercedes driver with a one-year contract extension. The Finn has won two Grands Prix this year: Austria (pictured) and Russia.
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Lewis Hamilton endured a tense relationship with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, but both Bottas and executive director Toto Wolff have praised the new pair's successful partnership.
Lewis Hamilton endured a tense relationship with former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, but both Bottas and executive director Toto Wolff have praised the new pair's successful partnership.
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Champagne moment: Bottas won his first F1 race at the Russian Grand Prix.
Champagne moment: Bottas won his first F1 race at the Russian Grand Prix.
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Bottas qualified in third place for the Russian Grand Prix behind pole sitter Sebastian Vettel and his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen but overtook both men at the start of the first lap.
Bottas qualified in third place for the Russian Grand Prix behind pole sitter Sebastian Vettel and his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen but overtook both men at the start of the first lap.
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Bottas was chased hard by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel but held off the German's challenge to claim a maiden win in his 81st F1 race start. Bottas joins an elite group of Finns -- Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen, Heikki Kovalainen and Keke Rosberg -- who have won an F1 grand prix.
Bottas was chased hard by Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel but held off the German's challenge to claim a maiden win in his 81st F1 race start. Bottas joins an elite group of Finns -- Mika Hakkinen, Kimi Raikkonen, Heikki Kovalainen and Keke Rosberg -- who have won an F1 grand prix.
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The Sochi track is set among the Olympic venues that hosted the Winter Games in 2014 -- the same year of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix.
The Sochi track is set among the Olympic venues that hosted the Winter Games in 2014 -- the same year of the inaugural Russian Grand Prix.
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Bottas joined world champions Mercedes in January after four seasons at Williams Racing. "I feel like I have plenty to prove, not much to lose ... more to win," Valtteri Bottas told CNN.
Bottas joined world champions Mercedes in January after four seasons at Williams Racing. "I feel like I have plenty to prove, not much to lose ... more to win," Valtteri Bottas told CNN.
CNN
The Finn's first taste of an F1 podium came at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix where he came third.
The Finn's first taste of an F1 podium came at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix where he came third.
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Bottas finished fourth overall in the 2014 F1 Drivers' Championship.
Bottas finished fourth overall in the 2014 F1 Drivers' Championship.
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Alongside teammate Felipe Massa, the Williams pair couldn't match the dominance of Hamilton and Rosberg at Mercedes.
Alongside teammate Felipe Massa, the Williams pair couldn't match the dominance of Hamilton and Rosberg at Mercedes.
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The Finn's only podium in 2016 came at the Canadian Grand Prix in June.
The Finn's only podium in 2016 came at the Canadian Grand Prix in June.
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In January 2017, after four seasons and nine podiums with Williams, it was announced that Bottas would<a href="https://www.trupilariante.com/2017/01/16/motorsport/valtteri-bottas-mercedes-lewis-hamilton-felipe-massa-williams/"> replace F1 champion Rosberg at Mercedes</a>.
In January 2017, after four seasons and nine podiums with Williams, it was announced that Bottas would replace F1 champion Rosberg at Mercedes.
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Bottas claimed his first-ever F1 pole at April's Bahrain Grand Prix but couldn't convert it into a win. The Finn ended up in third behind teammate Lewis Hamilton (far left) and race winner, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
Bottas claimed his first-ever F1 pole at April's Bahrain Grand Prix but couldn't convert it into a win. The Finn ended up in third behind teammate Lewis Hamilton (far left) and race winner, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel.
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