Amid F1’s Money-Minded Expansion to Middle East & the US, Valtteri Bottas Makes a Left-Field Desire

Formula 1, under Liberty Media’s ownership, has undergone a drastic makeover. With more content, more races, and radical changes to the weekends, the sport has seen it all under American owners. And with more money coming in from the expanding markets, the sport has also seen a shift in growth in the Middle East and the United States, as the organizers are willing to shed more money to get a space on the F1 calendar. Seeing all the expansion, Valtteri Bottas has come to light as he wants his home track, KymiRing, to host premier competitions, including F1.

Valtteri Bottas has already made quite a name for himself in Formula 1. Having made all his fortune in the sport, Finn wants to bring about a change in his home country. The Alfa Romeo driver was also in the race to help build the KymiRing, whose builder has gone bankrupt. Bottas’ aspirations for the circuit have been high but would be difficult to pursue, given the capital required to build.

Valtteri Bottas wants a home GP but also sees light amid the darkness around the circuit. Talking about the struggles and possibilities around it, the driver was quoted by Soy Motor as saying, “I would love to see a circuit in Finland, an authentic international level circuit, but the problem is that the company that manages it is bankrupt. It is not going to be a simple path, but there have been conversations with them to see if there is anything we can do to help.”

“At the moment it was just that, conversations, but it is not easy. Finland, as a place, means that you cannot run there in winter, but we will see if there are other opportunities.”

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The progress at the KymiRing has taken a hit several times. But with ever-so-good Valtteri Bottas himself leading the charge, maybe things could see a turnaround in the country.

What troubles are on Valtteri Bottas’ way to KymiRing?

The KymiRing project first saw the light in 2007. 12 years later, in 2019, it was ready to host a small MotoGP. Then a two-wheeler GP based upon a five-year contract with promoter Dorna Sports was scheduled. However, none of this came to fruition. Why so? Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical challenges evolving from the Russia-Ukraine War and Finland’s plans of joining NATO.

Now, with incomplete infrastructure, Valtteri Bottas stepped in to initiate talks to convert the track to FIA Grade 1 level to host F1 races. But all that is a complicated and time-consuming matter as the original developer went bankrupt.

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KymiRing has been an aspirational project for the country. But its current debt of about $27 million, caused by penalties and other reasons, isn’t helping Valtteri Bottas’ efforts.