F1 News
Valtteri Bottas opens up on mental health and the importance of family
Valtteri Bottas has had a difficult few weeks and it seems that his seat at Mercedes is in doubt for next season. The Finn is staying optimistic and hopes that a successful end to the season will be enough to prove his worth. Through this difficult time, the Mercedes driver has revealed how important a positive mindset and his family have been for him.
“I feel like I need to be more open-minded and do the things I feel like, rather than following a set path or the theoretically best preparation,” said Bottas to the official F1 website. “So I’m trying to focus more on my mental health and being in a happy place.”
“Family is very important,” he said. “I feel like I have all the support I need. If I need to talk with someone or open up or whatever, I have many, many people I can speak with. But so far I’ve still always found what works for me is to talk to the guy in the mirror.
“Maybe I’m bit of a lone wolf in that sense but many things are processed on my own. A big thing for me is being able to escape humans, whether it’s a hike or a bike ride or whatever. Nature works very well for me, to gather the thoughts, that’s a very healthy way to clear my head."
You can't help but feel sorry for Bottas. He is under fierce pressure and if he does not get wins under his belt soon then he will find himself out of the top team in the sport.