Valtteri Bottas

Lore & Background

In 2018, Bottas drove the F1 W09 EQ Power+, a chassis designed under directors including James Allison and Aldo Costa. The car featured an identical wheelbase of 3,726 mm to its predecessor but pushed development toward a higher rake of 1.2 degrees. Bottas's season began with challenges; at the Australian Grand Prix, he crashed out during Qualifying 3, incurring a five-place grid penalty and starting fifteenth. He recovered to finish eighth, while Hamilton took pole. Later, at the Bahrain Grand Prix, Bottas started from ninth after his teammate incurred a penalty, yet managed a recovery run to secure the runner-up spot behind Sebastian Vettel, despite Kimi Räikkönen's unsafe pit release promoting Hamilton.

In Their Own Story

The Chinese Grand Prix presented a critical turning point for Bottas. Starting on the second row with Ferrari locking out the front, he seized an opportunity at Turn 1 by overtaking Kimi Räikkönen while Hamilton lost a place to Max Verstappen. The race's decisive moment occurred during the first pit-stop, where Bottas executed an undercut against Sebastian Vettel to take the lead of the race. Although a collision between both Toro Rosso cars on lap 30 disrupted the field, Bottas had already secured his position at the front through strategic execution. This performance highlighted his ability to capitalize on split-second opportunities within the 21-round season that saw Mercedes secure eight front row lockouts and four 1–2 finishes.

Reader's Guide

Bottas's role in 2018 required navigating a car with specific technical characteristics, such as a revised front suspension assembly designed to improve set-up flexibility. The team introduced major aerodynamic changes at the Austrian Grand Prix, slimming down radiator inlets and altering barge-boards to increase external airflow speed. Bottas also benefited from innovations like the concave rear brake drum introduced at the Singapore Grand Prix, which helped manage tyre temperatures by extracting hot air faster. These technical evolutions supported his drive throughout the season, culminating in the team securing their fifth consecutive World Constructors' Championship with one race to spare at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Did You Know?

• Valtteri Bottas secured two pole positions and seven fastest laps during the 2018 season.
• The F1 W09 EQ Power+ made its competitive début at the 2018 Australian Grand Prix, where Bottas qualified fifteenth after a crash in Qualifying 3.
• Bottas took the lead of the Chinese Grand Prix by undercutting Sebastian Vettel during the first pit-stop.
• Mercedes became only the second team in F1 history to win five consecutive World Constructors' Championships, clinching the title at the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix with one race remaining.
• The car featured a titanium extension from the rear wheel hub to the upper wishbone to improve airflow to the diffuser gap.