Without Valtteri Bottas in 2025, Finland finds itself orphaned from Formula 1

In the history of Formula 1, it is the nation that has produced the most champions per capita, but also the most champions by number of drivers who have competed in at least one Grand Prix. Finland, with a population of just 5,5 million, can boast of having produced some of the greatest drivers in the sport. Since the first participation of a Finn in a Formula 1 Grand Prix, Leo Kinnunen at the 1974 Swedish GP, seven other drivers have followed him, including three world champions (Keke Rosberg, Mika Häkkinen and Kimi Räikkönen) and two other Grand Prix winners (Heikki Kovalainen and Valtteri Bottas).

A first since 1990

Alas, the tradition of Finnish drivers in Formula 1, with their unique composure and their famous "sisu", will soon come to an end. Indeed, at the start of the Australian Grand Prix, on March 16, there will be no Finn on the grid. Valtteri Bottas, the only representative of the Nordic country since the departure of Kimi Raikkonen at the end of 2019, will not be present since he will be replaced by Gabriel Bortoleto at Sauber from 2025. This will be a first in 35 years: since 1990 (JJ Letho at Onyx Grand Prix), there has always been a Finn at the start of the first race of the season, whether with Mika Häkkinen, Mika Salo, Kimi Räikkönen, Heikki Kovalainen or Valtteri Bottas.

You have to go back to 1988 to find a season where no Finn took part in a single Grand Prix. An eternity. The end of a long series that also marks a break from the Nordic/Scandinavian tradition in Formula 1, since without Kevin Magnussen nor Valtteri Bottas, the four Nordic countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark) will have no representatives in 2025! If this obviously continues in rally, Including WRC With Kalle Rovanperä, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari, the Nordic countries find themselves orphaned by Formula 1.

Which Finn will succeed Bottas?

However, this lull could be temporary for Finland, whose hopes now rest on a promising young driver: Tuukka Taponen, 3rd in the FRECA championship in 2024 and future Formula 3 driver at ART Grand Prix next season. "ART GP is a familiar team for Finns. For example, Valtteri Bottas won the championship with the ART GP team before moving to Formula 1", he recalled at the time of his officialization within the French team in Formula 3.

Scandinavia is not left out since the Swede Dino Beganovic, the Norwegian Martinius Stenshorne and the Dane Noah Strømsted are also young talents who could well, one day, come to perpetuate the legacy of the Nordic countries in F1. Let's not bury Valtteri Bottas either, who could also make a comeback in the years to come! If the man with 10 Grand Prix victories will spend the 2025 season in the warmth of the Mercedes house, as a reserve driver, his experience (and his marketing advantages) could convince a team to recruit him in 2026… a new American team, for example?

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