Valtteri Bottas reveals the F1 figure it was ‘overwhelming’ to work with

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Sauber star Valtteri Bottas has revealed the Formula 1 figure it was ‘overwhelming’ to work with throughout the Finn’s 12 years and counting in the pinnacle of motorsport.

It was a long, long time ago when a fresh-faced Bottas first appeared in the Grand Prix scene as a test driver for Williams. The Grove team first signed the emerging talent in 2010, before nurturing his rise and handing Bottas his Formula 1 debut at the 2013 Australian Grand Prix.

Williams invested heavily in preparing Bottas for F1 after giving him a test driver role in 2011 alongside winning the GP3 Series title. He then spent 2012 entirely on F1’s sidelines with 15 free practice sessions. Yet his first points in F1 came at a circuit he had not previously driven.

Valtteri Bottas recalls ‘overwhelming’ experience of working with Frank Williams

Bottas has achieved quite a lot in Formula 1 since recording his debut 12 years ago. The 34-year-old took his first points with P8 in the 2013 United States Grand Prix for Williams, then his first podium at the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix in P3 before then joining Mercedes in 2017.

Signing with the Silver Arrows to replace 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg saw Bottas get his first pole position at the 2017 Bahrain Grand Prix and seal first win at that year’s Russian Grand Prix. He has since reached 10 career F1 wins, 20 poles, 67 podiums and 1,797 points.

READ MORE: Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas’ life outside F1 from girlfriend to wine and gin

But through his 12 years on the grid and time as a test driver for Williams, Bottas still recalls how ‘overwhelming’ it was to work with Frank Williams whilst driving for the Grove team. It made an ever-lasting impression how passionately everyone worked for the team’s founder.

“I’ve had a few different bosses in this sport,” Bottas said, via quotes by Speedweek. “In the beginning, there was Frank Williams and it was overwhelming to work with him because the respect he enjoyed in the team was unbelievable.

“When he came into the pits, everyone took a stand and tried to work even more precisely and better. Everyone worked for Frank and everyone felt that Frank deserved a good result. That was pretty unique.”

Valtteri Bottas has worked with some of F1’s biggest team principals

Frank Williams was the first team principal whom Bottas worked for in Formula 1, before he effectively worked under deputy team boss Claire Williams up until joining Mercedes under Toto Wolff. Frederic Vasseur later signed Bottas to join Sauber from the 2022 F1 campaign.

But Bottas still recalls how ‘unique’ it was to see how the Williams team reacted whenever Frank Williams came into the garage. He founded the Grove natives back in 1977 alongside Patrick Head and built one of the most successful teams that Formula 1 has ever witnessed.

Only Ferrari with their 16 titles have ever won F1’s constructors’ championship more often than Williams with their nine. The Grove team have also won the fourth-most drivers’ titles to date with seven after the team relished regular success throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

Much of their success also followed Williams becoming tetraplegic following his car crash in March 1986. The team’s founder became wheelchair-bound following an accident driving on a mountain road whilst travelling from pre-season testing at Paul Ricard back to Nice airport.