Valtteri Bottas has opened up about a dark period in his early Formula 1 career, revealing that he starved himself while driving for Williams. In a heartfelt letter published by The Players’ Tribune, the Finnish driver disclosed that he was initially advised to lose five kilograms ahead of the 2014 season. However, he became obsessive about shedding more weight, restricting his diet to steamed vegetables and over-exercising.
A Dangerous Obsession
Bottas, who later partnered Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes from 2017 to 2022, described feeling like a “drug addict” and “completely delusional” during that time. He experienced intense brain fog and dizziness in crowded spaces, yet continued his extreme regimen. The Williams car, he noted, ultimately proved to be underweight, and he later realized his body had entered starvation mode.
Turning Point
A pivotal moment came after the tragic death of Jules Bianchi. The incident prompted Bottas to seek psychological help. In therapy, he was told that his entire identity revolved around racing. This realisation helped him begin to recover from his unhealthy fixation.
Bottas’s candid account sheds light on the immense pressures faced by Formula 1 drivers and the sometimes damaging lengths they go to in pursuit of performance.
