Bottas joined Alfa Romeo originally of the season following a five-year stint with Mercedes that noticed him rating 10 grand prix victories and twice end as runner-up within the drivers’ championship to team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Whereas the Finn has taken a step again from the common front-running type he loved at Mercedes, he has spearheaded Alfa Romeo’s efforts within the midfield this season, scoring 41 of its 46 factors to this point.
Bottas signed a multi-year settlement with Alfa Romeo for this 12 months, offering certainty over his future that he by no means beforehand loved with both Williams or Mercedes, who opted for yearly contract renewals.
“That is really the primary time for me, as a result of even with Williams, it was at all times one 12 months,” Bottas informed Autosport in an interview.
“It is the primary time I have not needed to stress and reply the questions, as a result of now for the drivers who do not know, for certain it isn’t going to be good.”
Bottas admitted that he felt extra relaxed and higher capable of “simply absolutely deal with the job”, giving him extra freedom to get pleasure from racing in F1.
“This season might be probably the most pleasant to this point,” Bottas stated. “OK, possibly you do not at all times bear in mind issues, but it surely actually appears like I am having fun with F1 greater than ever.
“When it will get to the racing, it is a number of good enjoyable, particularly like within the midfield and the way completely different it’s strategy-wise within the races. It is extra like one determination can soar you a lot locations. It is a completely different sport.
Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo C42
Photograph by: Antonin Vincent / DPPI
“Prior to now at Mercedes, usually it was once just one crew that we battled in opposition to, so then it is simply targeted on these two vehicles. However now I can have six vehicles round that we want to pay attention to. In order that’s good.”
Bottas stated the surroundings at Alfa Romeo felt “fairly younger” and “like a brand new race crew”, in addition to being “a bit extra relaxed” than Mercedes which was frequently combating for wins and championships.
“In fact, once I work, I work arduous however then once I’m off, I can do no matter I would like,” Bottas stated. “Life with the crew and in F1 and out of doors of it’s a very nice stability.”
Bottas is a prolific consumer of social media, and posted a cheeky picture of him skinny-dipping in a stream in america up on his Instagram account earlier this 12 months. The image – dubbed the ‘Bot-ass’ – was become a print for a charity public sale that raised €50,000.
Requested if he might have posted the image when he was at Mercedes, Bottas stated: “I doubt I might have finished it.
“It is also like, out of the observe, I am so relaxed and even like individuals’s opinion, I simply care a lot lower than I used to.
“And it was a pleasant photograph!”