Chequered Flag Extra: Red Bull’s protest & Bottas on life in F1

This episode of Chequered Flag Extra features an in-depth conversation with Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes reserve driver, who traces his journey in motorsport from his first go-kart experience at the age of five to becoming a full-time F1 driver. Bottas discusses his relationship with Toto Wolff, who managed him early in his career, and highlights the significance of mentorship and financial support in his progression through the junior categories leading up to F1. He talks about how he managed to make his way into Williams and the subsequent transition to Mercedes, where he had notable success alongside Lewis Hamilton.

Bottas also reflects on the pressures of being teammates with a seven-time world champion and how his relationship with Hamilton evolved over the years, moving from competitors to friends. Notably, he addresses how the growing popularity of F1 through platforms like Netflix impacted his public persona and career.

As a reserve driver, Bottas explains his current routine, which involves staying engaged with the team, assisting new drivers like Kimi Räikkönen, and preparing for potential future races. The episode concludes with Bottas highlighting his best race experience, emphasizing the feeling of being in a 'flow state' during the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.

Additionally, the episode covers recent F1 news, including Lando Norris's controversial race incidents, penalties issued during the Canadian Grand Prix, and team dynamics in the paddock, specifically tensions between Red Bull and Mercedes. The hosts also discuss changes at Renault with the resignation of CEO Luca Di Maio and the implications for the Alpine team amid their struggles in the current season.