Valtteri Bottas (born August 28, 1989 in Nastola, Finland) is a Formula One driver for the Mercedes team. Having tested with the Williams team since 2010, Bottas was promoted to a race seat for 2013. For the 2015 season, Bottas retained his race seat at Williams, partnered by Felipe Massa. In 2017, he moved to Mercedes to replace retired and reigning world champion Nico Rosberg and partner Lewis Hamilton. His first podium came in the 2014 Austrian Grand Prix. He went on to finish 4th in the Drivers' Championship in 2014. His permanent career number is 77. __TOC__