In Pictures: Valtteri Bottas Tries His Hand at an Interesting New Sport in Australia

Valtteri Bottas had a great start this season with his new team. But it seems the Finn is trying out lots of new things this season other than getting used to his new 2022 challenger, C42. Bottas is currently in Australia for the next race of this season. And while being there, he tried his hands at a new sport.

The 32-year-old left the Silver Arrows after the 2021 season. He joined Alfa Romeo to fill in the vacant seat of retired Kimi Raikkonen and also help the F1 team to rise to glory. Valtteri showcased his potential in the first two races this season. But the results didn’t favor the Finn, finishing P6 in Bahrain and a disappointing DNF in Jeddah.

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However, the former Silver Arrow driver is in Melbourne now for the third race of the season and is quite confident to perform better there. But ahead of the Australian GP, Bottas tried some football in the land of Kangaroo. The Finn joined the Australian football club Richmond FC and played the sport with them.

Valtteri Bottas still friends with Lewis Hamilton

Bottas was at the Brackley base for five years and was a key figure there. He helped the German constructors win five of the eight constructors’ titles. However, the Finn was always the secondary driver, serving the role of perfect teammate to seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Undoubtedly, Bottas did his part phenomenally and became good friends with Hamilton.

However, Bottas always wanted to be the team’s ace. So, he quit the Silver Arrows and picked up the torch of Alfa Romeo, while also serving as a mentor to the F1 rookie teammate Guanyu Zhou. But, the Finn still didn’t forget his former Silver Arrow teammate, and the two continue to share a close bond.

Both Valtteri and Hamilton were spotted talking a lot during the first two races this season. Even the Alfa Romeo driver himself shared both of them are still friends despite not being on the same team anymore. Bottas shared, “We are not team-mates but still mates. It’s nice. We have a good relationship in a way. We did achieve quite a bit of things together as team-mates. I think that kind of friendship will for sure last too.”

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The Finnish driver will be behind the wheel of his C42 at the Australian GP this weekend to compete against his former teammate Hamilton. Let’s see if Bottas can outperform his former team on Sunday.