So that was an exciting race, Valtteri Bottas won the first Grand Prix of the 2019 Formula 1 season in Melbourne, Albert Park. Who would have thought that the teammate of Lewis Hamilton took the lead after the first corner and just drove away into a safe distance from the World Champ.
Now how did Bottas came to his victory ‘Down under’. At the Barcelona winter tests we already spotted that Bottas had grown a bad ass beard. Like he wanted to say ‘No more mister nice guy and no more presents from me’. Now growing a beard doesn’t seem like a big deal, like he just forgot to shave at the winter tests and had to get in the rhythm again. But I think there is a lot more to the beard than meets the eye.
It is not uncommon for second drivers in a team to step up out in the spotlight after being in the shadow of a World Champion for years. You must understand how that feels and, while being one of the 20 best drivers in the world, you have to constantly defend your position and explain ‘why did you let him go’ or ‘weren’t you allowed to overtake him’?
Did you remember how Rosberg got to win his World Championship in 2016? Nico literally did everything to make sure he got the utmost out of his career. If there was ever a chance for him to become World Champion it would be in 2016. Rumour has it that his coach even suggested to lose some muscles towards the end of the season, because he didn’t need it for only three races to come and the weight loss would benefit him more than the strength of his muscles, we all know that this ended with Rosberg becoming World Champion. Knowing what we know now, it is not a strange decision that he quit shortly after achieving his life goal.
“To whomever it may concern: F#ck you!”
It might be the case that Bottas has a ‘Rosberg year’ now, trying to get the utmost out of his career. If there is ever a chance for Bottas to become World Champion, it is in 2019.
If you think of it like that, you can imagine how much Bottas wanted the extra point for the fastest lap of the race. That point might come in handy at the end of the season and could be the difference between winning and losing. Bottas has to optimize every part of his life to even get a chance on receiving the highest reward. He also knows that there are no guarantees, but that this is the chance of his life.. yes.. even his badass beard.
His beard in this story is much more than just some facial hair. It is a bold statement because he knows this will be his year. If it isn’t his year, than he can be sure he has done everything in his power to seize this opportunity.
We wish Valtteri Bottas all the luck to achieve his dream in 2019. And for the haters Bottas had his message ready on the team radio: “To whomever it may concern: F#ck you!”
