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Valtteri Bottas: The Ultimate Number Two
Season 3, Ep. 33
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In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most quietly successful careers of the modern era: Valtteri Bottas.
Because Bottas is one of those drivers history might undersell.
But the numbers don’t.
10 wins.
67 podiums.
20 pole positions.
Multiple runner-up finishes in the World Championship.
That’s not average. That’s elite.
David and Skin rewind to the early days.
Back-to-back Formula Renault Eurocup champion.
Dominant junior reputation.
Signed by Williams for 2013.
And no — he didn’t jump straight from F3 to F1. He spent 2012 as a Williams test driver before racing full-time in 2013.
By 2014? He finished 4th in the Drivers’ Championship… in a Williams. In the first year of the turbo-hybrid era.
That wasn’t luck. That was consistency and ruthless podium collecting.
Then came the big moment.
Nico Rosberg retires.
Mercedes need a replacement.
Bottas gets the call.
He walks into the most dominant car era… next to Lewis Hamilton.
And here’s the thing.
2018 wasn’t “bad” — it was brutal circumstance. The Mercedes was good, yes, but Hamilton hit another level, and Bottas had multiple wins slip through strategy calls and late-race incidents. He finished winless, but not slow.
Then 2019 and 2020?
Runner-up in the championship twice.
He proved the pace was real.
He just lived his prime next to a seven-time champion.
After Mercedes, he moved to Sauber/Alfa Romeo, becoming a pillar for the Audi transition — steady, professional, consistent. The Audi dream project shifted direction heading into 2026, and Bottas wasn’t retained for the race seat as the long-term reset accelerated.
Off track? The “BottASS” charity campaign completely flipped his public image. Leaning into humour, cycling culture, and personality — a reminder that the quiet Finn had layers.
We break down what defines Bottas:
- Elite one-lap speed
- Structured, methodical race craft
- Team-first mentality
- Mental toughness from being Hamilton’s teammate
The big question?
Does he get a late-career return — or is the legacy already complete?
Best case? Surprise comeback in a mentoring role for a developing project.
Worst case? Career fades without a farewell.
Most likely? Remembered as one of the most successful supporting drivers of the hybrid era — the calm enabler behind a championship dynasty.
He wasn’t slow.
He was just racing one of the greatest of all time.
Follow us for more: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (search Formula Fools). Thanks for listening — and if you got a laugh or learned something, drop a 5-star rating and tell a mate.
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34. Sergio Pérez: The Tyre Whisperer
31:29||Season 3, Ep. 34In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most fascinating careers of the modern grid: Sergio Pérez.Because Pérez’s résumé doesn’t follow the usual pattern.Six wins.Three poles.Thirty-nine podiums.That alone tells you something about how he races.David and Skin rewind to the beginning.From karting in Mexico to Skip Barber in the US at 14.From living above a restaurant in Germany while racing Formula BMW…To runner-up in GP2 in 2010.He earned his way into F1 with Sauber in 2011 and instantly built a reputation for something rare:Tyre management.He could make rubber last longer than anyone else. That became his calling card.In 2013 he joined McLaren — and no, he didn’t leave for Force India by choice. He was dropped after one season when McLaren reshuffled. That setback sent him to Force India in 2014.And that move saved his career.Force India/Racing Point became his home. In 2020 he finished 4th in the championship, dragged that car into podium fights, and delivered one of the wildest wins of the era.Bahrain 2020.Spun to last on lap one.Dead last.Wins the race.That’s not normal.Then came the Red Bull era alongside Max Verstappen.Two strong seasons. Key role in Constructors’ fights. Multiple wins. Monaco 2022.Then 2024 fell apart.The car evolved heavily around Verstappen’s ultra-sharp front end preference. Pérez struggled with the balance window. Confidence dipped. Qualifying gaps widened. And in modern F1, that spiral snowballs quickly.Off track? In 2018 he literally helped save his team by initiating legal action that pushed Force India into administration — allowing it to be rescued and continue racing.Most drivers save tyres.Checo saved a team.We break down what defines Pérez:Elite tyre managementStreet circuit masteryCalm execution in chaotic racesProven ability to support championship campaignsThe big question now?Is there a late-career return… or is the legacy already written?Best case? Surprise comeback and one more big Sunday.Worst case? Career closes without a farewell race.Most likely? Remembered as the most successful Mexican driver in F1 history — a six-time winner who maximised every opportunity he was given.He wasn’t the loudest driver of his era.He was the smoothest.32. Arvid Lindblad: The Five-Year Promise
21:04||Season 3, Ep. 32In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack the youngest gun on the 2026 grid: Arvid Lindblad.Because not many 18-year-olds walk into Formula 1 with a timeline they predicted themselves.In 2021, a 14-year-old Lindblad told Lando Norris:“Remember me. I’ll see you in five years.”Five years later — he’s on the grid.That’s not manifestation. That’s planning.David and Skin rewind to why Red Bull didn’t care that he “only” finished 6th in F2.Because the headline stat isn’t the whole story.Before F2, Lindblad:Dominated British kartingWon the WSK Super Master Series (OKJ)Took WSK Euro Series and Final Cup titlesJoined the Red Bull Junior Team at just 13 years oldThis isn’t a late bloomer. This is a long-term project.And the reason he got the seat over guys who finished ahead of him?Ceiling.Red Bull don’t just promote championship positions — they promote potential. Raw pace. Adaptability. The ability to handle pressure early.Lindblad has been trusted with TPC runs, FP1 sessions, and serious simulator work before even starting a Grand Prix.That’s internal belief.By 2026, he lines up for Racing Bulls — officially stepping into the Red Bull pipeline spotlight.We break down what makes Lindblad different:Fearless self-belief (he’s been calling this since he was a kid)Elite karting foundationEarly Red Bull backingBig-moment confidenceThe obvious question?Can he translate junior pace into week-in, week-out F1 performance with the world watching?Best case? He smashes the rookie year and instantly becomes a long-term Racing Bulls leader.Worst case? The step up is brutal and adaptation takes longer than Red Bull patience allows.Most likely? Flashes of ridiculous speed, a few rough weekends, and a season that screams “future weapon in development.”He didn’t arrive by accident.He said he’d be here.And now he has to prove why.31. Franco Colapinto: The Call-Up Specialist
25:20||Season 30, Ep. 31In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the grid’s fastest-rising young names: Franco Colapinto.Because Colapinto’s F1 story so far hasn’t been a straight line.It’s been opportunity.Drafted mid-season.Thrown into FP1.Called up again.Moved teams.Confirmed for 2026.He just keeps getting the call.David and Skin rewind to why that’s not random.Franco left Argentina young and built his career in Europe — no comfort zone, no local-only ladder. He climbed properly.Spanish F4 ChampionStrong progression through FIA Formula 3FIA Formula 2 development with academy backingJoined the Williams Driver Academy in 2023And then it accelerated.Silverstone FP1 in 2024.Mid-season F1 debut with Williams.Then another call-up at Alpine.Then confirmation for 2026.Teams don’t keep doing that unless you’re quick — and calm under pressure.Off track? In 2024 he won Argentina’s Olimpia de Oro, the country’s top national sports award.That’s not a niche motorsport trophy.That’s your whole country saying: “You’re the one.”By 2026, he’s part of BWT Alpine Formula One Team — not as a one-race substitute, but as a confirmed driver trying to convert opportunity into permanence.We break down what defines Colapinto right now:Rapid adaptabilityComposure when thrown into chaotic situationsA proven ability to seize limited chancesRaw pace that keeps him inside academy conversationsThe big question?Can he turn moments into consistency?Best case? Alpine take a step forward and Franco becomes a steady points scorer with the odd headline weekend.Worst case? The car stays tough and he spends 2026 fighting just to justify the seat.Most likely? A growth year — flashes of real quality, more confidence, and a push to turn “the guy who got the call” into “the guy who stayed.”He’s not here because of one lucky break.He’s here because every time he’s been thrown in… he’s handled it.30. Gabriel Bortoleto: The Rookie Champion Project
29:11||Season 3, Ep. 30In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most hyped young talents on the grid: Gabriel Bortoleto.Because not all junior résumés are built the same.Some drivers win races.Some win championships.Bortoleto won back-to-back FIA titles as a rookie.2023 — FIA Formula 3 Champion (rookie).2024 — FIA Formula 2 Champion (rookie).That’s rare air.David and Skin rewind to how a Brazilian kid built his career through Europe rather than staying local — aggressive planning, stacked grids, and zero shortcuts.He didn’t just scrape titles either.He won them calmly. Strategically. Clinically.Full-season control. Tyre management. Championship composure.That’s why teams paid attention.And when Fernando Alonso — yes, that Fernando Alonso — backs you through his A14 management company and publicly calls you one of the most complete young drivers he’s seen?That hits different.By 2025 he’s in F1 with Sauber.By 2026 he’s part of the full works transformation into the Audi F1 Team.And that changes the conversation.He’s not a placeholder.He’s part of a foundation.We break down what makes Bortoleto dangerous:Championship temperament across full seasonsIntelligent race managementRookie-year dominance under pressureA smooth driving style suited to long-term developmentThe real question now?Can junior dominance translate into F1 consistency while Audi build their new-era project?Best case? Audi rise quickly and Bortoleto becomes their long-term spearhead.Worst case? The project takes too long and momentum stalls.Most likely? Steady development through 2026, flashes of real quality, and a reputation growing quietly behind the scenes.Brazil has been waiting for its next front-running star.Audi might be betting they’ve just signed him.29. Pierre Gasly: The Comeback King
23:00||Season 3, Ep. 29In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most resilient careers on the grid: Pierre Gasly.Because Gasly’s story isn’t about smooth dominance.It’s about getting knocked down — and responding.Before F1, the résumé was legit:Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup ChampionRunner-up in Formula Renault 3.52016 GP2 Champion with PremaSuper Formula runner-up in JapanThat’s not “lucky timing.” That’s a proper championship ladder.He entered F1 with Toro Rosso, impressed quickly, and earned the dream promotion to Red Bull Racing in 2019.And then… it went wrong.Half a season.Pressure cooker environment.Demoted back to Toro Rosso.For a lot of drivers, that’s where the spiral starts.For Gasly?That’s where the rebuild begins.Then came Monza 2020.Chaos. Safety cars. Strategy swings.Gasly leads a Grand Prix for AlphaTauri.Wins it.Not inherited. Not fluky. Earned.That win redefined his career.By 2026, he’s the established reference at BWT Alpine Formula One Team — the experienced race winner anchoring a team trying to reset for the new era.We break down what defines Gasly now:Elite mental resilienceAbility to bounce back from career setbacksProven race-winning composureLeadership presence inside a rebuilding teamOff track? In 2026 he became the first active F1 driver to invest in a MotoGP team — taking a stake in Red Bull KTM Tech3. Most drivers collect watches. Pierre collected a racing team.The question now?Can Alpine give him the car to turn strong seasons into regular podium fights again?Best case? Alpine nail 2026 and Gasly becomes a genuine podium threat week in, week out.Worst case? He delivers strong performances capped by midfield machinery.Most likely? Team leader at Alpine, steady points scorer, with the occasional big weekend when strategy and pace align.Ten years from now, his story won’t start with “demoted.”It’ll start with “came back.”28. Lance Stroll: More Than the Narrative
21:55||Season 3, Ep. 28In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the most misunderstood careers in modern F1: Lance Stroll.Because no driver carries a louder narrative than Stroll.But here’s the thing.Before the F1 debates.Before the “pay driver” tags.Before the Aston Martin era.He was properly dominant in juniors.David and Skin rewind to the early years:Picked up by the Ferrari Driver Academy as a teenagerItalian F4 ChampionToyota Racing Series Champion2016 FIA Formula 3 European Champion — 14 wins, 187-point marginThat’s not scraping through. That’s wiping the floor.Then came F1 in 2017 with Williams.Rookie podium in Baku.Youngest front-row starter at the time.A pole position in Turkey 2020.Those are not accidents.And then — 2023.Cycling crash.Broken wrist.Missed pre-season testing.Doubt over Bahrain.He raced anyway.That comeback matters because it showed something people often overlook: toughness.By 2026, he’s fully embedded at Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team — not a short-term seat, not a stopgap. A long-term part of the project.We break down what defines Stroll in this era:Big-weekend capability (when it clicks, it really clicks)Proven ability to grab podiums in chaotic racesPhysical and mental resilienceExperience in a team building toward something biggerThe real question?Can he turn peak weekends into consistent seasons?Best case? Aston hit a proper performance window and Stroll adds more podiums — maybe even sneaks a win.Worst case? Points-only seasons with flashes but no headline breakthrough.Most likely? Solid campaigns with occasional standout weekends when conditions line up and he reminds everyone he belongs here.He might never silence every critic.But the results — pole position, podiums, longevity — already say he’s more than the narrative.27. Esteban Ocon: The Caravan Kid Who Wouldn’t Back Down
22:17||Season 3, Ep. 27In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the grid’s toughest journeys: Esteban Ocon.Because Ocon didn’t arrive in Formula 1 with comfort.He arrived with sacrifice.Before the podiums. Before the F1 contracts. Before the headlines.His family sold their house and moved into a caravan so he could keep racing. That’s not a motivational poster. That’s real life.David and Skin rewind to why the talent justified the risk.Before F1, Ocon:Won the 2014 FIA Formula 3 European Championship as a rookie (beating Max Verstappen)Won the 2015 GP3 Series in his debut seasonBuilt a reputation for precision, control, and mental toughnessBecame part of the Mercedes junior programme before reaching F1He wasn’t flashy. He was relentless.His F1 career hasn’t been smooth either.Debut with Manor in 2016.Strong Force India years.Dropped for 2019 when the team ownership changed.Returned with Renault.Then that moment.Hungary 2021.Chaos at Turn 1.Ocon survives.Holds off Sebastian Vettel for an entire race.Wins.That’s how a midfield team wins a Grand Prix — calm, composed, no mistakes.By 2026, he’s at Haas F1 Team — not as a gamble, but as an experienced race winner anchoring a rebuilding project.We break down what makes Ocon dangerous:Smart race management under pressureTough, uncompromising wheel-to-wheel racingMental resilience forged through setbacksThe credibility of being a proven Grand Prix winnerThe question now isn’t whether he’s good enough.It’s whether Haas can give him machinery that lets him show it consistently.Best case? Haas take a step forward and Ocon sneaks onto more podiums.Worst case? Solid points seasons but limited headline moments.Most likely? A dependable, hard-edged competitor who occasionally pops up in chaos and reminds everyone he’s already won one.Ten years from now, he won’t be remembered as the loudest driver of his era.He’ll be remembered as the one who made it the hardest way possible…and still made it.26. Liam Lawson: The Chaos Substitute Who Stayed
20:14||Season 3, Ep. 26In this Formula Fools driver deep dive, we unpack one of the grid’s ultimate opportunity merchants: Liam Lawson.Because Lawson’s F1 career hasn’t followed a clean, linear script.It’s been chaos.Reserve driver.Super Formula in Japan.Mid-season F1 call-up.Red Bull cameo.Back to Racing Bulls.And somehow… he’s still here.David and Skin rewind to why that’s not luck.Before F1, Lawson quietly built one of the most varied junior résumés on the grid:NZ F1600 championToyota Racing Series championRunner-up in DTM in his rookie season3rd in FIA F2 with four winsSuper Formula debut winner in JapanThat’s not hype. That’s adaptability.He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in 2019 and learned quickly that survival in that system requires two things: pace and mental toughness. He’s shown both.Then came 2023.Daniel Ricciardo gets injured.Lawson gets the call.He jumps into the car at Zandvoort and doesn’t look out of place.That became his reputation: parachute him in, he’ll be solid.By 2026, he’s back at Racing Bulls — but this time not as an experiment. As a proven part of the system.We break down what makes Lawson dangerous:Composure under chaosAbility to jump into new machinery and adapt instantlyQualifying ceiling (yes, that P3 grid slot proves it’s in there)Mental resilience after bouncing between rolesOff track? He’s openly obsessed with the Disney Pixar Cars movie. Which honestly tracks. He’s the guy who grew up loving racing and somehow found himself living it — repeatedly, in unpredictable ways.The big question now:Can he turn flashes into a full season of consistency in a midfield fight?Best case? He becomes the clear Racing Bulls leader and forces Red Bull to look at him again seriously.Worst case? He’s permanently labelled “solid but not spectacular.”Most likely? A steady upward curve, big weekends when it clicks, and a 2026 season defined by proving he’s not just a super sub — he’s a career F1 driver.He didn’t arrive with fireworks.He arrived with opportunity — and kept taking it.