Bottas: Now I can really enjoy life

On Sunday, Valtteri Bottas will start his annual duathlon, which will be held in the championship during the summer holidays in the Finnish town of Pajulahti, which is very close to Nastola, where he was born almost 33 years ago (his birthday is August 28).

He does not hide that positive changes have taken place in his life lately, and the Alfa Romeo racer spoke about their reasons in an interview with the Finnish tabloid Ilta-Sanomat.

“I feel freer and calmer than before. Now I can really enjoy life,” said Valtteri. – There are at least two main reasons for these changes: I changed teams and next to me is Tiffany (Tiffany Cromwell, professional Australian cyclist, his girlfriend).

We have a very strong mutual affection, and this is largely due to the fact that we are very similar in character. We like to travel all the time, we have common interests, we know how to enjoy delicious food. I feel connected to Tiffany, together we never get bored.

Now every day is full of new adventures for me, I try to do only what I like, and nothing pressures me. And I try to inspire others, so that people also try to get the most out of life.”

In Valtteri’s case, a prerequisite for such a life is active participation in sports, which is why he keeps his duathlon. This year the competition will be held for the fifth time, for more prepared adult participants a 5 km cross is on the program, after that you have to ride 20 km on a mountain bike and finally run 3 km. For parents with children, a lighter version of the distance is provided: 1.5 km crossing, 5 km cycling and another 1.5 km running.

“Initially, these competitions were organized because I wanted to motivate all people to exercise more, and I hoped that many families would participate,” Bottas said. – I also think it is important that the duathlon is charitable again. And of course I personally want to show a better result than in previous years.

When we talk about the Formula 1 season, it develops unevenly. The start was good, we were constantly earning points, but the last five or six races were not easy. But now our car is getting some new products and I hope we can make progress in the second half of the season.

The team has invested a lot of effort and money in modernizing the car, and most importantly, this work should pay off next year. Alfa Romeo has become a new team for me, here I have more responsibility than at Mercedes, and now I have a lot of influence too.

I am fully involved in the process of upgrading the car, and especially making a car for next season. At Alfa Romeo I feel that a lot depends on me and I participate in everything. This has a huge impact on my state of mind. I breathe much easier and the pressure is incomparably lower than in previous years.”

Valtteri and Tiffany are now making an effort to visit Finland more often, spending their free time in his country house near Nastola and in the new house completed in Lapland last December. The relationship between the rider and his girlfriend has been tested enough by time and together they are already discussing the prospects for a further life.

“Yes, we are already talking about starting a family, but there are no concrete plans yet,” admits Valtteri, who is more busy with other projects this weekend. – Tiffany shows better results than me in cycling, although I am already a bit behind her. But Sunday will be difficult for me. Of course I would love to finish ahead of Tiffany!”