Formula One is not a fair sport, claims Bottas

Ten-time F1 race winner Valtteri Bottas has stated that Formula One is not a “fair sport” given the fact that the drivers’ performances are massively dictated by the competitiveness of their cars.

Valtteri Bottas has won ten F1 races with Mercedes while he is currently driving for Kick Sauber, the only team without a point in F1 2024.

Speaking on the Pitlane Life Lessons podcast, Valtteri Bottas stated that F1 drivers’ influence is surprisingly small behind the wheel as the performance is mostly determined by the car.

“That’s why I like cycling, because it’s like the opposite. You, as a human, you are the engine, you are the machine."

“In Formula 1, you need the car, you need the team if you want to succeed. And it’s not a fair sport, that’s for sure."

Outside the F1 world, Bottas is a fan of cycling. His girlfriend is Tiffany Jane Cromwell, who is an Australian road and gravel cyclist.

Having participated in several cycling competitions, the Nastola-born driver has revealed that the reason for him enjoying cycling races is that they offer more equal chance for everyone.

"On the start line, pretty much everyone, more or less, they have the same chances to win or do well. Cycling is definitely sometimes more fair. It’s almost like a balancing factor for me."