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Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Valtteri Bottas reveals his secret past as a sniper before F1 success with 10 Grand Prix wins
Valtteri Bottas reveals his secret past as a sniper before F1 success with 10 Grand Prix wins (Image via Getty) Valtteri Bottas, the Finnish driver of Formula 1 is a very calm nature with excellent racing skills behind the wheel but there is a side to him that most fans don't know about. Bottas raced in Formula 1 and won 10 Grand Prix races, but as a prerequisite, he was in the army, more accurately, he was a sniper, in the Finnish army, from 2008 to 2009. This was the national duty of Finland to all males. During this time Bottas was also developing his career in racing. Valtteri Bottas trained as a sniper during Finland's mandatory military service In 2008, Valtteri Bottas was already participating in the Formula Renault Eurocup series. There he won while beating the well known drivers like Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne. But during that same year, he was also completing six months of military service in Finland. Speaking on the Red Flags podcast, Bottas shared that he was trained as a sniper during that time. — valtteribottas (@valtteribottas) He said, 'Because I was racing, I only had to do six months. But in six months of Finnish winter, I became a sniper. I was a good shot. That's why they made me kind of a sniper.' He also explained that he was trained to go behind or in between the enemy, showing just how intense his training was. His motorsport goal did not stop his military experience. Bottas placed third in the Formula 3 Euro Series in 2009 right after completing his service. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo His rise in racing came from that success, which also landed him to Formula 1 with Sauber, Mercedes, and Williams. Valtteri Bottas says military life made him stronger in racing Even though it was tough, Bottas said he learned many life lessons during his time in the army. In a past interview with People, he said, 'When you're tired and sleeping in the freezing forest, it's not fun. But it teaches you teamwork, self-discipline, and how to respect the little things in life.' Also Read: Emma Raducanu Defeats Naomi Osaka At Citi Open To Set Up Quarterfinal Clash With Maria Sakkari He claimed that, after those icy evenings, sleeping in a warm bed was a luxury. The mental toughness the program gave him enabled him to tackle difficult events later on. From aiming at snow to standing on Formula 1 podiums, Valtteri Bottas's story in sports is peculiar. FAQs 1. How many F1 races has Valtteri Bottas won? Valtteri Bottas has won 10 Formula 1 races. 2. When did Valtteri Bottas serve in the Finnish military? He served from 2008 to 2009 while also racing professionally. 3. What kind of military training did Valtteri Bottas receive? He was trained as a sniper during his six months in the Finnish army. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- News18
Who Is Kush Maini? 24-Year-Old Bengaluru Lad Creates History For India in Formula 2
Kush Maini has become the first Indian to win a Formula 2 race, clinching the sprint race title in Monaco. Star India racing driver Kush Maini on Saturday, May 24, became the first from the country to win a race in Formula 2, when he clinched the sprint race title in Monaco, in a historical moment for India as well as the nascent history of motorsports racing in the country. Maini started the sprint race from pole position, thanks to F2's reverse-grid rule, which inverts the top 10 qualifiers for Saturday's race. After bagging 10th place in qualifying for the feature race, Maini capitalised on the opportunity with a perfect performance on the challenging streets of Monaco to bring home massive glory. Who Is Kush Maini? Born in September 2000 in Bengaluru, Kush is the younger brother of Arjun Maini, who was a development driver for the Haas F1 team in 2017 and 2018. He is also the nephew of Chetan Maini, a co-founder and Vice Chairman at SUN Mobility and an Indian business magnate in the electric car industry. advetisement Maini has competed in Formula 4 before, the Formula Renault Eurocup, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship and FIA Formula 3. Maini is an Alpine Academy member, from which Jack Doohan and Romain Grosjean graduated into Formula 1. Maini began his single-seater career nine years back, competing for BVM Racing in the Italian F4 Championship. His campaign began strongly, scoring points in the first six races of the year. After a tough middle part of 2016, Maini scored his first podium in car racing, taking third place at the final race in Vallelunga. He finished the season 16th in the standings and ended up fifth in the rookies' championship. For 2017, Maini moved to Jenzer Motorsport, once again racing in Italian F4 with Giorgio Carrara, Federico Malvestiti, Giacomo Bianchi and Job van Uitert. Maini's sophomore year would prove to be more successful, with two podiums at Imola and Monza, as well as a series of top-five finishes, helping him finish eighth in the end results. In 2018, Maini stepped up to the British Formula 3 Championship with Lanan Racing. The season ended up being a breakthrough year, winning the reverse-grid race at Rockingham and scoring seven further podiums. Intending to remain in the Eurocup in 2020 with three-time champions R-ace GP, Maini changed his plans after COVID-19 and returned to the British F3 series, teaming up with Hitech GP. In October 2023, Maini was announced to be joining the Alpine Academy. He experienced his first Formula One test at the Red Bull Ring, driving the Alpine A522 and describing it as a dream come true. First Published: May 25, 2025, 12:53 IST
Mint
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Mint
Who is Oscar Piastri? Formula One racer hails Vaibhav Suryavanshi, shares IPL 2025 video
Vaibhav Suryavanshi redefined cricket history as the youngest centurion in T20 cricket when he smashed 100 off just 35 balls in Rajasthan Royals' match against Gujarat Titans. The 14-year-old caught the attention of sporting giants across the world. Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar praised the young batter's fearless approach, and now, Formula One sensational driver Oscar Piastri has also joined and hailed the RR batter. In the game played at Rajasthan Royals home ground, Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Vaibhav Suryanashi smashed 101 off 38 balls. He broke several records during his explosive innings. He hit 7 fours and 11 sixes in the match against Gujarat Titans. Suryavanshi along with Yashasvi Jaiswal laid the foundation for RR batters to chase the target of 210 runs. And RR won the game by eight wickets with Riyan Parag finishing it off for the team in just 15.5 overs. Suryavanshi was dismissed by Prasidh Krishna in the 12th over. The 14-year-old youngster received a standing ovation from not only his team members but also the opposition team. Oscar Piastri is a professional Formula One driver from Melbourne, Australia. Born on April 6, 2001, the 24-year-old races for McLaren. He has showcased his remarkable skills in the high-speed, high-stakes world of F1. Piastri currently holds the top spot in the 2025 Drivers' Championship with 99 points and is ahead of his teammate Lando Norris by 10 points. Oscar posted a story on his social media, praising Vaibhav's knock. It is a repost of Rajasthan Royals' video revisiting the star player's batting. Oscar Piastri's Instagram story Oscar's career is studded with achievements. He won the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup. He scripted history when he won the FIA Formula 3 (2020) and Formula 2 (2021) titles with Prema Racing, he became the only driver to secure back-to-back wins. He joined hands with McLaren in the year 2023 and clinched his first Grand Prix victory in Hungary in 2024. Piastri's 2025 campaign has been commendable. He has won three of the first five races including Australia, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. McLaren's dominance in the Constructors' standings reflects his growth. Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert has praised Piastri's ability to gain the advantage of opponent Max Verstappen mentally. A passionate cricket fan, Piastri is no stranger to the IPL's excitement. By celebrating Vaibhav's batting, Piastri has bridged the gap between cricket and F1. His praise has amplified Suryavanshi's achievement, earning him fans beyond cricket. First Published: 30 Apr 2025, 11:21 AM IST
